Għawdex marine (31487)
Malta, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1b, A1d, D1a
Year of last assessment: 2013
National site name: L-ibħra ta' madwar Għawdex
Central coordinates: Latitude: 36.0400, Longitude: 14.2800
System: marine
Area of KBA (km2): 556.74154
Protected area coverage (%): 99.93
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: This area encompasses the waters within the Malta-Gozo Channel, as well as the waters immediately offshore from Ta’ Cenc in Gozo to the west and up to 7 km offshore of Rdumtal-Madonna to the east. Western limit - 35°58'38.40'N, 14°13'56.79'E, (ii) Eastern Limit - 36° 0'45.37'N, 14°27'4.07'E.
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 ornithological importance of this area is three-fold. The area is an important rafting site for both Puffinus yelkouan and Calonectris diomedea, with concentrations of the former off of Rdumtal-Madonna to the east and the latter off Ta’ Cenc to the west. Secondly, both species also use the channel itself, often in large numbers, particularly in the late afternoon before returning to their breeding colonies. The channel is also important for migratory ducks, forming a bottleneck through which they pass in the thousands during the spring and (to a lesser extent) autumn migrations. During this period they also gather in rafts within the confines of the channel, often remaining for many hours before continuing on their migrations. The ducks include internationally important numbers of the Globally Near-Threatened Aythya nyroca, along with sizeable numbers of Anas querquedula and Anasacuta, both Species of Conservation Concern in Europe.
Delineation rationale: IBA area has been expanded from xxx ha to 55,644 ha and IBA name changed from Malta-Gozo Channel to L-ibħra ta' madwar Għawdex / Għawdex marine. The site has been expanded following a zonation approach to identify the priority areas for conservation within the Maltese EFZ under the five-year EU LIFE+ Malta Seabird Project (LIFE 10NAT/MT/000090). The top 15% most important areas for Puffinus yelkouan, Calonectris diomedea & Hydrobates pelagicus were selected. The model used integrates predicted probabilities of occurrence from shipboard survey data combined with information on the location of the seabird colonies. In the first delineation of the Malta-Gozo Channel IBA confirmed in 2013, key sites for rafting and feeding were determined using telemetry studies (data loggers and satellite tags), boat-based observations and land-based observations under the four-year EU LIFE Yelkouan Shearwater Project (LIFE 06NAT/MT/000097).
Habitats
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Neritic | 100 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Disturbance to rafting birds by boats and offshore developments (such as a proposed windfarm in the Sikka l-Bajda area), illegal hunting, light and noise pollution from pleasure craft.