Tanamunningen (3145)
Norway, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: D1a
Year of last assessment: 2014
National site name: Tanamunningen
Central coordinates: Latitude: 70.5000, Longitude: 28.4500
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 20
Area of KBA (km2): 36.60169
Protected area coverage (%): 92.65
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The large estuary of the Tana river in the Tanafjord, with extensive areas of shallow water, intertidal sand and gravel-banks, and subarctic coastal meadows. The biggest banks and meadows are east of the main river course. Høyholmen is a grass-covered islet in the estuary. Leirpollen is a small cove to the east.
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: A very important site for seaduck outside the breeding season. Most males of the north-western European population of Mergus merganser gather to moult here, or move here after moulting at fjords in Finnmark, in August-September. Unfortunately no reliable counts of this species have been made since the late 1980s. The number may be much lower now, possibly below 10,000 individuals. Species of global conservation concern which do not meet IBA criteria: Haliaeetus albicilla (common non-breeder in spring and summer; max. 7 on passage). The delta is also a notable staging ground for migrating geese (especially Anser fabalis), ducks and waders; other notable species are Falco rusticolus (frequently seen in spring and summer) and Calidris maritima (up to 500 in winter).
Delineation rationale: Adopted from an official polygon for a Protected Area.
Habitats
Land use: hunting
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Intertidal | 38 | |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 19 | |
| Marine Neritic | 38 | |
| Grassland | 5 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Reasons for any possible decline in moulting Mergus merganser are not known, and a new census of the birds in the area is urgently needed. A planned harbour (for the mining industry) adjacent to the Nature Reserve may have a negative impact on birds and habitats in the area, but may also reduce the existing boat traffic at the site (which currently may cause disturbance to birds). The area is proposed as a Ramsar Site.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Livestock farming & ranching | Small-holder grazing, ranching or farming | Ongoing |
| Biological resource use | Gathering terrestrial plants | Unintentional effects (species being assessed is not the target) | Ongoing |
| Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases | Named species | Ongoing |
| Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Problematic species/diseases of unknown origin | Named species | Ongoing |
| Pollution | Air-borne pollutants | Type Unknown/Unrecorded | Ongoing |
| Transportation & service corridors | Shipping lanes | Only in the future | |
| Residential & commercial development | Commercial & industrial areas | Only in the future | |
| Energy production & mining | Mining & quarrying | Only in the future | |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Recreational activities | Ongoing | |
| Pollution | Garbage & solid waste | Ongoing |