Lagune El Bibane (6961)
Tunisia, Africa
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2016
National site name: Lagune El Bibane
Central coordinates: Latitude: 33.2400, Longitude: 11.2762
Elevation (m): 0 to 10
Area of KBA (km2): 249.62231
Protected area coverage (%): 95.46
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Also known as Bhiret el Bibane (the Sea of Bibane), the site is situated on the south-eastern coast, 10 km north of Ben Guerdane, 20 km south of Zarzis and 15 km from the Libyan border. It is a coastal lagoon 32 km long and up to 10 km wide, with an average depth of 4 m. It is linked to the sea by a series of small channels, the largest of which is 800 m wide.
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. It is an important wintering and passage site for waterbirds including Anas penelope, A. acuta, A. clypeata, Grus grus, Numenius arquata, N. phaeopus, N. tenuirostris (a group of 32 was reported in 1979), Larus melanocephalus, L. minutus, L. ridibundus, L. genei, L. fuscus, L. cachinnans, Sterna nilotica and S. caspia. Larus cachinnans, Sterna hirundo and S. albifrons all breed. Non-bird biodiversity: None known to BirdLife International.
Delineation rationale: Type 2 marine IBA: non-breeding (coastal) congregations.
Habitats
Land use: fisheries/aquaculture
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Traditional fishing is the main human activity in the lagoon and may be a cause of disturbance to waterbirds.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biological resource use | Fishing & harvesting aquatic resources | Unintentional effects: large scale (species being assessed is not the target) [harvest] | Ongoing |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Work & other activities | Ongoing | |
| Climate change & severe weather | Habitat shifting & alteration | Only in the future | |
| Residential & commercial development | Tourism & recreation areas | Only in the future |
Additional information
References: Denizot and Guelorget (1981), Gaultier (1988a), Gretton (1991), Hughes et al. (1997).