Puck Bay (3259)
Poland, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: D1a
Year of last assessment: 2010
National site name: Zatoka Pucka
Central coordinates: Latitude: 54.5667, Longitude: 18.6167
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 2
Area of KBA (km2): 618.82599
Protected area coverage (%): 98.97
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The north-westernmost part of the Gulf of Gdañsk, divided into a shallow western part (also called Puck lagoon; 10,400 ha, average depth 3 m) and a deeper eastern part. The eastern border of this site is the nominal line between the top of Hel peninsula and Gdañsk city. The total length of coastline is c.100 km. Also included in this site are various remnant coastal meadows (totalling 388 ha). Around Puck Bay there are some small fishing harbours and, further to the south-west, there are large harbours at Gdynia and Gdañsk.
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 wintering and migrating waterbirds, holding well over 20,000 waterbirds during winter, sometimes exceeding 50,000 birds. During severe winters the bay is covered by ice and birds have to move elsewhere. During autumn and spring migration the coastal meadows (sometimes flooded) attract large numbers of waterbirds, particularly waders (up to some thousands), and overhead migration of raptors is pronounced in spring. Beka Nature Reserve supports the largest concentration of breeding Calidris alpina schinzii in Poland (c.10-12 pairs) and meadows near Mechelinki support a few additional pairs. More than 300 bird species have been recorded in the area.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture (5%) | fisheries/aquaculture (45%) | nature conservation and research (5%) | tourism/recreation (15%) | urban/industrial/transport (30%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Intertidal | 49 | |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 49 | |
| Grassland | 2 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Tourism/recreation, hunting and uncontrolled human access along the coast disturb nesting and staging birds. Oil pollution resulting from oil-tanker accidents is a potential hazard. Water-pollution by domestic sewage has been very heavy in the past; discharges are now more purified but still affect submerged vegetation. The coastal salt-meadows have been disappearing due to land-use changes. Many diving birds drown in fishing nets (impact not yet known). Kuling Waterfowl Research Group is carrying out a long-term study of wader migration at the Rewa river mouth and carries out winter waterbird counts.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Marine & freshwater aquaculture | Subsistence/artisinal aquaculture | Ongoing |
| Natural system modifications | Dams & water management/use | Dams (size unknown) | Ongoing |
| Biological resource use | Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals | Intentional use (species being assessed is the target) | Ongoing |
| Biological resource use | Fishing & harvesting aquatic resources | Unintentional effects: large scale (species being assessed is not the target) [harvest] | Ongoing |
| Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases | Unspecified species | Ongoing |
| Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Problematic native species/diseases | Unspecified species | Ongoing |
| Pollution | Domestic & urban waste water | Type Unknown/Unrecorded | Ongoing |
| Pollution | Industrial & military effluents | Type Unknown/Unrecorded | Ongoing |
| Natural system modifications | Other ecosystem modifications | Ongoing | |
| Residential & commercial development | Housing & urban areas | Ongoing | |
| Residential & commercial development | Tourism & recreation areas | Ongoing | |
| Energy production & mining | Renewable energy | Only in the future | |
| Transportation & service corridors | Roads & railroads | Ongoing | |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Recreational activities | Ongoing | |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Work & other activities | Ongoing | |
| Pollution | Garbage & solid waste | Ongoing | |
| Climate change & severe weather | Storms & flooding | Ongoing |