Bushire Bay (8153)
Iran, Islamic Republic of, Middle East
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 1994
National site name: Bushire Bay
Central coordinates: Latitude: 29.0000, Longitude: 50.8833
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 10
Area of KBA (km2): 257.53002
Protected area coverage (%): 0.00
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Extensive intertidal mudflats, sand spits and low muddy and sandy islets on the Persian Gulf coast, extending from the town of Bushire on a rocky peninsula in the south to the southern limits of the Hilleh Rud Delta 20 km to the north-west. The largest island, near the south end of the bay, is mainly bare mudflats with low dunes at the north and south ends, and a small fishing village at the north end. Inland are bare mudflats and sparsely vegetated desertic plains.
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. An important wintering area for shorebirds and gulls, especially Dromas ardeola, Larus ichthyaetus and Larus cachinnans/L. argentatus. Small numbers of terns, including Sterna nilotica, breed on islets in the bay. Pterocles alchata breeds commonly on the adjacent sandy flats. 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: fisheries/aquaculture
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Neritic | 5 | |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 90 | |
| Desert | 5 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: There is no legal protection and no information on threats.