Küdema bay (289)
Estonia, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1d
Year of last assessment: 2003
National site name: Küdema laht
Central coordinates: Latitude: 58.5333, Longitude: 22.2667
System: marine, terrestrial
Area of KBA (km2): 45.42457
Protected area coverage (%): 98.80
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: A shallow (<20 m) sea bay on the northern coast of Saaremaa island, with small islets, reedbeds, coastal meadows and saltmarshes. The main economic activities are fishing, forestry and tourism.
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: Küdema bay is an important wintering area for two duck species and a notable breeding area for several waterbirds. Significant proportion (³1%) of national population breeding at site: Larus marinus (min. 105 pairs).
Habitats
Land use: fisheries/aquaculture (85%) | forestry (5%) | hunting | nature conservation and research (100%) | tourism/recreation
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Shrubland | 1 | |
| Marine Neritic | 88 | |
| Forest | 7 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 4 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Major threats are posed by intensive fishing, overgrowth of coastal meadows with reed Phragmites due to undergrazing, and tourism. A planned core area of the West Estonian Archipelago Biosphere Reserve is contained by the IBA. Research involves monitoring of wintering and breeding waterbirds.