Carmel coast (8174)
Israel, Middle East

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Global KBA criteria: D1a

Year of last assessment: 1994

National site name: Carmel coast

Central coordinates: Latitude: 32.5500, Longitude: 34.9167

System: marine, terrestrial

Elevation (m): 0 to 10

Area of KBA (km²): 36.81358

Protected area coverage (%): 6.85

KBA classification: Global

Legacy site: Yes

Site details

Site description: A 20-km-strip along the Mediterranean coast, from Atlit south to the Taninim River Nature Reserve. The site includes the Atlit saltpans (8 km south of Haifa) and a large complex of fish-ponds at Ma'agan Mikhael and Ma'ayan Zvi, c.25 km north of Netanya, as well as some small islands off Ma'agan Mikhael.

Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that meets the thresholds for at least one criterion described in the Global Standard for the Identification of KBAs.

Additional biodiversity: See boxes for key species. Breeding birds include five species of heron and egret and Plegadis falcinellus. The Atlit saltpans hold the only colony of Sterna albifrons in Israel. Good numbers of many waterbird species winter, when up to 55 Circus aeruginosus are also present. Large flocks of Pelecanus onocrotalus occur on passage. Non-bird biodiversity: Mammals: Meriones sacramenti (endemic). Reptiles: Chalcides guentheri. Flora: Aegialophila pumilio, Salsola soda.

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

Habitats

Land use: agriculture | fisheries/aquaculture | nature conservation and research (20%) | urban/industrial/transport

IUCN Habitat	Coverage %	Habitat detail
Artificial - Terrestrial	45
Marine Coastal/Supratidal	45
Marine Neritic	5
Artificial - Aquatic	5

Threats

Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Most ornithological sites within the area are protected as Nature Reserves, e.g. the fish-ponds at Ma'agan Mikhael and Ma'ayan Zvi, and three areas are designated as Mediterranean Specially Protected Areas (Taninim River, 5.5 ha; Dor--HaBonim, 113 ha; Ma'agan Mikhael Islands, 2 ha). Breeding birds at the Atlit saltpans (c.250 ha) are protected by the owner. Part of the protected area includes a proposed marine reserve (450 ha) with a few small islets and rocky shores, used by breeding terns and gulls.

Threat level 1	Threat level 2	Threat level 3	Timing
Agriculture & aquaculture	Marine & freshwater aquaculture	Industrial aquaculture	Ongoing
Residential & commercial development	Housing & urban areas		Only in the future
Human intrusions & disturbance	Recreational activities		Ongoing

Additional information