Suakin archipelago (6803)
Sudan, Africa

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Global KBA criteria: D1a

Year of last assessment: 2001

National site name: Suakin archipelago

Central coordinates: Latitude: 18.8333, Longitude: 38.0000

System: marine, terrestrial

Elevation (m): 0 to 10

Area of KBA (km²): 19.83322

KBA classification: Global

Legacy site: Yes

Site details

Site description: The Suakin archipelago is the largest group of islets on the Red Sea coast of Sudan, extending south-eastwards from the former port of Suakin almost to the Ethiopian border. There are c.30 islets in the archipelago, all without fresh water and all uninhabited. Most of them are less than 1 km long, but two, Talla Talla Saghir and Talla Talla Kebir, are 5 km in length. Some of the larger, rocky islets, formed from raised coral reefs, reach a height of 10 m. All the islets are largely barren, with low vegetation growing only on the sandy fringes. Low, halophytic bushes grow on fossil reefs on some of the smaller islets which are usually fringed by coral reefs.

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: See Box for key species. The islets support breeding colonies of five species of tern: Sterna bergii, S. bengalensis, S. repressa, S. anaethetus and Anous stolidus, numbering c.3,500 pairs in total. Small numbers of Sula leucogaster, Larus hemprichii and Dromas ardeola also breed. Sterna bergii and S. bengalensis breed principally on the islets of Seil Ada, Barra Musa Saghir, Qad Eitwid, Eitwid, Two and Talla Talla Kebir. Non-bird biodiversity: Four species of turtle have been reported to breed, including Eretmochelys imbricata (CR) on Seil Ada. The mammal Dugong dugon (VU) occurs.

Delineation rationale: Type 1 marine IBA: suitable for the seaward extension approach.

Habitats

Land use: fisheries/aquaculture | not utilised | tourism/recreation

Threats

Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The site has been proposed as a National Park. There is some collecting of bird and turtle eggs by fishermen. There is, however, little enforcement of national legislation to control the collection of turtles, shells and corals. Commercial quantities of methane gas have been found, but remain unexploited. The area is an important fishery and also has considerable tourist potential.

Additional information