Lake Victoria: Mwanza Gulf (7003)
Tanzania, Africa

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Year of last assessment: 2012

National site name: Lake Victoria: Mwanza Gulf

Central coordinates: Latitude: -2.5000, Longitude: 32.8333

System: freshwater, terrestrial

Elevation (m): 1134 to 1134

Area of KBA (km²): 424.68509

Protected area coverage (%): 0.43

KBA classification: Regional

Legacy site: Yes

Site details

Site description: The site covers part of Mwanza Gulf in the south-eastern corner of Lake Victoria, centred on the southern shore of a bay to the south of Busisi. The site also contains areas of papyrus Cyperus papyrus swamp.

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: See Box for key species. The only data available are from a 1995 waterbird survey. Numbers given are minima. The main roost-site south of Busisi held at least 15,000 birds. Numbers of Phalacrocorax carbo are likely to be seasonally higher than the 3,300 estimated and Phalacrocorax africanus probably exceeds the estimated 500 birds at certain times. No attempts have been made to survey the papyrus swamps and further work may reveal that species of the Lake Victoria Basin biome occur. Non-bird biodiversity: None known to BirdLife International.

Habitats

IUCN Habitat	Coverage %	Habitat detail
Wetlands(Inland)	83
Forest	1
Artificial - Terrestrial	14

Threats

Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Regular counts should be taken of all roost-sites and any breeding colonies within the area.

Additional information