Balsfjord (3154)
Norway, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2014
National site name: Balsfjord
Central coordinates: Latitude: 69.2500, Longitude: 19.2500
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 10
Area of KBA (km2): 63.76264
Protected area coverage (%): 16.57
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Sørkjosen is the most important among several large tidal areas in Balsfjord, being the outlet of two rivers at the head of the fjord. The tidal zone stretches from Markenes in the east to Storsteinnes in the west, consisting of large areas of mud, sand and gravel-banks, and extends as far as 700 m out. Along the shoreline there is some woodland of alder Alnus and birch Betula, a medium-sized coastal meadow, agricultural fields, and some industrial areas. Offshore, outside the IBA, are important fishing areas and spawning grounds for herring Clupea harengus and capelin Mallotus villosus.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance because it meets one or more previously established criteria and thresholds for identifying sites of biodiversity importance (including Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas, Alliance for Zero Extinction sites, and Key Biodiversity Areas)
Additional biodiversity: Huge flocks of Calidris canutus stage here on the way to their breeding grounds in Greenland and northern Canada, arriving in early May and peaking at several tens of thousands before departing at the end of the month. In late winter, large flocks of seaduck gather in Sørkjosen, feeding on the eggs of capelin and herring. One or two Falco rusticolus sometimes hunt in the area.
Delineation rationale: Adopted from an official polygon for a Protected Area. IBA covers Sørkjosen and Kobbevågen Nature Reserves, as well as much of the inner part of Balsfjorden.
Habitats
Land use: fisheries/aquaculture | urban/industrial/transport
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Intertidal | 50 | |
| Marine Neritic | 50 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: As of 1989, industry was expanding and threatened the tidal area. The area is proposed as a Ramsar Site.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pollution | Agricultural & forestry effluents | Nutrient loads | Ongoing |
| Residential & commercial development | Commercial & industrial areas | Only in the future | |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Recreational activities | Ongoing |