Isla Foca (24028)
Peru, South America

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Global KBA criteria: A1d, D1a

Year of last assessment: 2024

National site name: Isla Foca

Central coordinates: Latitude: -5.2474, Longitude: -81.1976

System: marine, terrestrial

Elevation (m): 0 to 50

Area of KBA (km²): 288.68377

Protected area coverage (%): 100.00

KBA classification: Global

Legacy site: Yes

Site details

Site description: The KBA Isla Foca covers an area of 288.68 sq km and it's located in Peru, in front of the coast line of Paita province, department of Piura. This island is located in the transition area between the Humboldt Current Upwelling System (HCUS) and less productive waters of the Pacific Central-American Large Marine Ecosystem. This site covers an isle and surrounding sea, having the maximum altitude at 50 masl and maximum depth at 50 mbsl. Temperature in this KBA ranges from 22°C to 28°C.

Rationale for qualifying as KBA: The KBA Isla Foca qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that meets the thresholds for A1d and D1a criteria described in the Global Standard for the Identification of KBA. This KBA harbors populations of Sula nebouxii and Spheniscus humboldti.

Additional biodiversity: Arctocephalus cf. australis, Otaria lavescens, Megaptera novaeangliae, Spheniscus humboldti, Sula variegata, Leucocarbo bougainvilliorum, Pelecanus thagus, Poikilocarbo gaimardi, Larosterna inca, Larus belcheri, Pelecanus occidentalis, Sula nebouxii, Fregata magnificens, Phoebastria irrorata, Pandion haliaetus, Falco peregrinus, Numenius phaeopus, Actitis macularius, Tringa solitaria, Arenaria interpres, Calidris alba, Larus modestus, Thalasseus maximus and T. elegants, Oceanodroma tethys, Nannopterum brasilianum, Egreta thula, Cathartes aura, Coragyps atratus, Larus cirrocephalus, Haematopus ater, Larus dominicanus and Podiceps major

Manageability of the site: This site could be managed by National Service for the Natural Areas Protected by the State - SERNANP, since Isla Foca is a sector of the Mar de Grau National Reserve. The National Coordination Group of KBAs has a conservation promotion and monitoring committee, which is composed of various governmental and civil society institutions that will work to promote conservation actions in the KBA.

Delineation rationale: The limits of KBA Isla Foca were delineated following the Sector of Isla Foca of the Mar Tropical de Grau National Reserve.

Habitats

Summary of habitats in KBA: Island 5-10% Sea 90-95%

Threats

Threat level 1	Threat level 2	Threat level 3	Timing
Pollution	Industrial & military effluents	Type Unknown/Unrecorded	Unknown
Energy production & mining	Oil & gas drilling		Ongoing

Additional information

References: https://www.foreca.es/Peru/Piura/Isla-Foca Del Solar, A., Romagnoni, G., Kluger, L. C., Céspedes, C. M. S., & Wolff, M. (2022). Comparative Food Web Analysis of Two Peruvian Bay Systems Along a Latitudinal Gradient: Resource Use and the Environmental Envelope. Frontiers in Marine Science, 9, 829424.