Côte de Zerkine et El Grine (6954)
Tunisia, Africa

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Year of last assessment: 2016

National site name: Côte de Zerkine et El Grine

Central coordinates: Latitude: 33.6622, Longitude: 10.4843

Elevation (m): 0 to 5

Area of KBA (km²): 72.96246

Protected area coverage (%): 7.89

KBA classification: Regional

Legacy site: Yes

Site details

Site description: The site is an extensive coastal lagoon with an intertidal area covering 1,600 ha. It is situated on the southern edge of the Gulf of Gabès, 50 km north of the town of Medenine. It is fringed by saltmarshes; the vegetation is therefore predominantly halophytic, dominated by Halocnemum, Salicornia and Suaeda species.

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. KBA identified in the CEPF Ecosystem Profile of the Mediterranean Hotspot (2017). Taxonomy, nomenclature and global threat category follow the 2016 IUCN Red List.

Additional biodiversity: See Box for key species. See under Kneiss (site TN032) for the ornithological importance of the Gulf of Gabès; many of the species recorded there occur at Gourine. The area is important for wintering Larus genei, L. ridibundus and Sterna caspia. There are breeding populations of Larus cachinnans and Sterna albifrons. In addition, six species of the Mediterranean North Africa biome (A01) and four of the Sahara–Sindian biome (A02) occur at this site (see Table 2). Non-bird biodiversity: None known to BirdLife International.

Delineation rationale: Type 1 marine IBA: suitable for the seaward extension approach. Type 2 marine IBA: non-breeding (coastal) congregations.

Habitats

Land use: not utilised

Threats

Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Human disturbance and hunting are the main threats.

Threat level 1	Threat level 2	Threat level 3	Timing
Climate change & severe weather	Storms & flooding		Only in the future

Additional information