Key Biodiversity Areas

Aedey (535)
Iceland, Europe

Site overview


KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2000
National site name: Æðey
Central coordinates: Latitude: 66.1017, Longitude: -22.6552
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 34
Area of KBA (km2): 3.51941
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes

Site details


Site description: An island (200 ha) and adjacent area in the middle of the ísafjördur firth, by Snæfjallaströnd, north-north-east of ísafjördur town. Land-uses include grazing and eider husbandry (Somateria mollissima) (`Other' land-use).
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: One of the largest breeding colonies of Somateria mollissima in the country, and Sterna paradisaea and Fratercula arctica are also common breeders.

Habitats


Land use: agriculture
IUCN HabitatCoverage %Habitat detail
Marine Coastal/Supratidal20
Grassland80

Threats


Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Predation by introduced American mink Mustela vison is a threat.