Norte do Corvo - Oceânica (26985)
Portugal, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: B1, D1a
Year of last assessment: 2008
National site name: Norte do Corvo - Oceânica
Central coordinates: Latitude: 41.1917, Longitude: -31.7000
System: marine
Area of KBA (km2): 2681.13313
Protected area coverage (%): 100.00
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The North Corvo Offshore IBA is located in the Western Azores, approximately 135km from Corvo island, and has an area of around 2,689 km2. Images showing the average sea surface temperature (SST) for June 2006 and August 2007, coinciding with a Cory's Shearwater individual tracking period, indicate a thermal gradient in the sea water in this area, which may have been associated with a productivity front. The IBA is also near a large seamount, which may also promote upwelling in this area, increasing the productivity.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that meets the thresholds for at least one criterion described in the Global Standard for the Identification of KBAs.
Additional biodiversity: Cory's Shearwater Calonectris diomedea: This is the species that this IBA was designated for, since both the Corvo and Faial populations use this area for resting and feeding. This area gathered individuals from the Faial population during the incubation period (June 2006) and the following year, individuals from Corvo fed here during the chick-rearing stage (August 2007). Other species observed in this IBA: No marine surveys were carried out in this area.
Habitats
Land use: fisheries/aquaculture | military
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Neritic | 100 |