Lake Victoria: Bunda Bay (7005)
Tanzania, Africa
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2012
National site name: Lake Victoria: Bunda Bay
Central coordinates: Latitude: -2.2500, Longitude: 33.6667
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 1134 to 1134
Area of KBA (km2): 415.27836
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Bunda Bay lies at the eastern end of the Speke Gulf. The gulf itself forms a large indentation in the eastern lake shore, to the north of Mwanza town, and is approximately 80 km long. Virtually the whole shoreline of the bay is heavily populated.
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. A significant roost of Egretta garzetta occurs on Machuera and Namguma islands. More than 6,000 birds were counted in the area yet the total for the whole of Speke Gulf must be several times higher. Non-bird biodiversity: None known to BirdLife International.
Habitats
Land use: fisheries/aquaculture
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Wetlands(Inland) | 79 | |
| Grassland | 1 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 19 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: In 1995 there was constant disturbance of the bay from fishermen and villagers. It may well prove impossible to apply sensible conservation measures to areas of shoreline, but protection of groups of islands may be realistic.
Additional information
References: Baker (1997).