Al-Ashat islands (8251)
Qatar, Middle East
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 1994
National site name: Al-Ashat islands
Central coordinates: Latitude: 24.7167, Longitude: 51.6000
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 10
Area of KBA (km2): 0.62135
Protected area coverage (%): 100.00
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: A group of small islands c.10 km off the south-east coast of Qatar.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance because it meets one or more previously established criteria and thresholds for identifying sites of biodiversity importance (including Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas, Alliance for Zero Extinction sites, and Key Biodiversity Areas)
Additional biodiversity: See box for key species. Breeding species in 1970–1972 included Phalacrocorax nigrogularis (dead chicks found). Non-bird biodiversity: None known to BirdLife International.
Delineation rationale: 2010-02-03 (BL Secretariat): site area was not defined in the original IBA publication/inventory; here, it has been derived by GIS from the draft polygon.
Habitats
Land use: not utilised
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 95 | |
| Marine Neritic | 5 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The lack of recent surveys makes it difficult to judge whether the island is under any threat.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases | Unspecified species | Ongoing |
Additional information
References: Gallagher et al. (1984).