Craggy Point, Clarence Island (29400)
Antarctica, Antarctica
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: D1a
Year of last assessment: 2015
National site name: Craggy Point, Clarence Island
Central coordinates: Latitude: -61.2648, Longitude: -54.1826
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 250
Area of KBA (km2): 1.52687
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Clarence Island is the easternmost of the South Shetland Islands, lying 30 km east of Elephant Island. The IBA qualifies on the basis of the Macaroni Penguin (Eudyptes chrysolophus) colony present and the high concentration of seabirds (in particular Chinstrap Penguin (Pygoscelis antarctica) and Southern Fulmar (Fulmarus glacialoides)). The IBA comprises the ice-free coastline extending northward from Craggy Point in the south 3.5 km along the southwestern shoreline of Clarence Island. The geology of Clarence Island is predominantly metamorphic of Mesozoic age (Marsh & Thomson 1985). No other information is available on the environment at Craggy Point. There are no research stations in the near vicinity, the closest being ~250 km to the southwest, on King George Island.
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: Approximately 11 570 pairs of Chinstrap Penguin were recorded breeding at this site in 1977 (Croxall & Kirkwood 1979). In the same year around 3350 breeding pairs of Macaroni Penguin were recorded, making this the largest colony of this species in the Antarctic Peninsula region. Southern Fulmars are also confirmed breeders at Craggy Point. A count of Southern Fulmars over the whole of Clarence Island was estimated at 25 475 pairs in 1977, with breeding recorded at this site and at Fur Seal Point on the eastern coastline (Furse 1978). Non-bird biodiversity: None known.
Delineation rationale: If ice-free area is ≤ 5 km2 then ice-free area is used as boundary.
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: None known.
Additional information
References: Croxall, J.P. & Kirkwood, E.D. 1979. The distribution of penguins on the Antarctic Peninsula and Islands of the Scotia Sea . British Antarctic Survey, Cambridge. Furse, J.R. 1978. Joint Services Expedition to the Elephant Island group, 1976 – 77. Unpublished report, BAS archives, Cambridge. Marsh, P.D. & Thomson, J.W. 1985. Report on Antarctic Fieldwork. The Scotia Metamorphic Complex on Elephant Island and Clarence Island, South Shetland Islands. British Antarctic Survey Bulletin 69: 71-75.