Ata Island Marine (31012)
Tonga, Oceania
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: D1a
Year of last assessment: 2012
National site name: Ata Island Marine
Central coordinates: Latitude: -22.3398, Longitude: -176.2078
System: marine
Area of KBA (km2): 796.46447
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The site boundary is based upon a seaward extension of 15 km around Ata Island to encompass the foraging range or high use and transit areas of IBA threshold numbers of seabirds based upon a 1990 population estimate of 31,000 - 61,000 individuals and waterbirds based upon a 1990 population estimate of 20,000 individuals from Rinke, D. (1991) Birds of 'Ata and Late, and additional notes on the avifauna of Niuafo'ou, Kingdom of Tonga. Notornis, 38: 131-151.
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: The site boundary is based upon a seaward extension of 15 km around Ata Island to encompass the foraging range or high use and transit areas of IBA threshold numbers of seabirds based upon a 1990 population estimate of 31,000 - 61,000 individuals and waterbirds based upon a 1990 population estimate of 20,000 individuals from Rinke, D. (1991) Birds of 'Ata and Late, and additional notes on the avifauna of Niuafo'ou, Kingdom of Tonga. Notornis, 38: 131-151.
Delineation rationale: The site boundary is based upon a seaward extension of 15 km around Ata Island to encompass the foraging range or high use and transit areas of IBA threshold numbers of seabirds based upon a 1990 population estimate of 31,000 - 61,000 individuals and waterbirds based upon a 1990 population estimate of 20,000 individuals from Rinke, D. (1991) Birds of 'Ata and Late, and additional notes on the avifauna of Niuafo'ou, Kingdom of Tonga. Notornis, 38: 131-151.
Habitats
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Neritic | 100 |
Threats
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pollution | Excess energy | Light pollution | Ongoing |
| Pollution | Industrial & military effluents | Oil spills | Ongoing |
| Climate change & severe weather | Habitat shifting & alteration | Only in the future |