Brunt Ice Shelf (Halley Bay) (30130)
Antarctica, Antarctica
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: D1a
Year of last assessment: 2015
National site name: Brunt Ice Shelf (Halley Bay)
Central coordinates: Latitude: -75.5382, Longitude: -27.4055
System: marine, terrestrial
Area of KBA (km2): 1.76933
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The Brunt Ice Shelf is situated on the Caird Coast, Coats Land. An Emperor Penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri) colony breeds on fast ice that forms along the northwestern margin of the Brunt Ice Shelf, at a location locally known as ‘Halley Bay' after the nearby British research station Halley. The IBA qualifies on the basis of the Emperor Penguin colony present and is entirely marine. The nearest permanent station is Halley VI (GBR), ~20 km to the east on the Brunt Ice Shelf.
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: Hempel & Stonehouse (1987) estimated that 15 400 Emperor Penguin chicks were in this colony in Oct/Nov 1987. Analysis of a satellite image acquired 27 Oct 2009 (Fretwell et al. 2012) indicated that approximately 22 510 Emperor Penguins were present at the colony. No other birds are known to breed in the area. Non-bird biodiversity: None known.
Delineation rationale: 1.26 km radius around point, truncated at coastline.
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The close proximity of Halley VI Station (GBR), with accompanying local operational support by ships and aircraft, could pose potential concerns for conservation of the breeding colony of Emperor Penguins. Station procedures take into account the presence of the breeding colony, and appropriate protocols are followed by visitors (R. Clarke pers. comm. 2015).
Additional information
References: Fretwell, P.T., LaRue, M.A., Morin P., Kooyman, G.L., Wienecke, B., Ratcliffe, N., Fox, A.J., Fleming, A.H., Porter, C. & Trathan, P.N. 2012. An Emperor Penguin population estimate: The first global, synoptic survey of a species from space. PLoS ONE 7(4): e33751. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0033751 Hempel, G. & Stonehouse, B. 1987. Aerial counts of penguins, seals and whales in the eastern Weddell Sea. Berichte zur Polarforschung 39: 227-20.