Aedey (535)
Iceland, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2024
National site name: Æðey
Central coordinates: Latitude: 66.1017, Longitude: -22.6552
System: terrestrial, marine
Elevation (m): 0 to 34
Area of KBA (km2): 7.56561
Protected area coverage (%): 0.00
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: A 200-hectare island and its surrounding area lie in the middle of Ísafjörður Firth, near Snæfjallaströnd, to the north-northeast of Ísafjörður town. The land is used for grazing and eider husbandry (Somateria mollissima), along with other traditional practices.<p></p>
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: One of the largest breeding colonies of <i>Somateria mollissima</i> in the country, and <i>Sterna paradisaea</i> and <i>Fratercula arctica</i> are also common breeders.<p></p>
Manageability of the site: Site identified based on BirdLife International's Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas, under which manageability is strongly recommended but not explicitly documented
Delineation rationale: Received from Partner in March 2008
Habitats
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Grassland | 80 | |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 20 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Predation by introduced American mink <i>Mustela vison</i> is a threat.<p></p>
Additional information
Contributors: Site identified based on Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas by the BirdLife International Partnership