Pomorie Lake (441)
Bulgaria, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2005
National site name: Pomoriysko ezero
Central coordinates: Latitude: 42.5903, Longitude: 27.6222
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 9
Area of KBA (km2): 9.48035
Protected area coverage (%): 100.00
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: A hyper-saline lake on the Black Sea coast (a former coastal lagoon), most of which is utilized for salt production. There are shallow saltpans of varying salinity, separated by narrow dykes; a freshwater canal between the saltpans; freshwater marshes with rich vegetation; dry, saline areas covered by salt-tolerant vegetation; and a sand beach along the coast. The vegetation around the saltpans is dominated by Salicornia and Puccinellia, while Typha, Phragmites and Schoenoplectus dominate in the more freshwater areas. Most of the lake is used for artisanal (non-intensive) salt-production (`Other' land-use, below). There is a mud-cure establishment.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that was identified using previously established criteria and thresholds for the identification of Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs) and for which available data indicate that it does not meet global KBA criteria and thresholds set out in the Global Standard.
Additional biodiversity: The lake is important for breeding Recurvirostra avosetta, migrating Pelecanus crispus and wintering Cygnus olor. Species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria: Phalacrocorax pygmeus (min. 24 in winter; max. 29 on passage), Aythya nyroca (max. 15 on passage), Oxyura leucocephala (3-5 in winter), Crex crex (occurs on passage). Significant proportion (³1%) of national population breeding at site: Ixobrychus minutus (5 pairs).
Delineation rationale: Type 1 marine IBA: suitable for the seaward extension approach.
Habitats
Land use: hunting (100%) | urban/industrial/transport (5%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Intertidal | 32 | |
| Artificial - Aquatic | 32 | |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 32 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 5 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The main problems are caused by intensification of salt-production techniques (including abandonment of some salt-pans), restitution of pans to former owners, and water pollution from the surrounding area (all are classed under `Industrialization/urbanization' threat, above). Hunting is also a problem. The IBA has been proposed as a Protected Landscape.