Qishran Bay (8277)
Saudi Arabia, Middle East
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1b, D1a
Year of last assessment: 1994
National site name: Qishran Bay
Central coordinates: Latitude: 20.2600, Longitude: 40.0383
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 5
Area of KBA (km2): 586.35695
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: A shallow bay of 15 × 35 km, almost closed by a long narrow island, and containing eight other islets. It is situated at a point where the Asir mountains run close to the Red Sea. Most of the islets are surrounded by mangrove Avicennia trees and clothed with dense Salicornia, and there are seagrass beds in the bay.
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 box for key species. The site holds the densest population of Falco concolor in Saudi Arabia and probably in the world, and at least 50 pairs of Sterna anaethetus breed. The coastal topography concentrates migrants moving down the coast. Non-bird biodiversity: Mammals: Dugong dugon (V). Reptiles: the sea-turtles Eretmochelys imbricata (E) and Chelonia mydas (E) breed.
Delineation rationale: 2009-10-12 (BL Secretariat): The polygon is smaller than the recorded area and includes only the bay (as described). However, as the site is important for Sooty Falcon perhaps some rocky/mountainous terrain inland should be included.
Habitats
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Desert | 45 | |
| Marine Neritic | 45 | |
| Forest | 5 | |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 5 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Trapping of migrant birds (especially falcons) between mid-September and mid-November is a tradition, and average numbers of falcons caught per year are c.30 Falco biarmicus, c.15 F. cherrug, c.40 F. peregrinus and c.30 F. pelegrinoides. In one year, three adult F. concolor were known to have been trapped and a nest robbed, and a leaflet explaining the importance of the F. concolor population is to be distributed to falcon trappers. The site is proposed as a Special Nature Reserve in the NCWCD System Plan for Protected Areas.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural system modifications | Other ecosystem modifications | Ongoing |
Additional information
References: Gaucher et al. (in press).