Bay of Skälder (884)
Sweden, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2000
National site name: Skälderviken
Central coordinates: Latitude: 56.2328, Longitude: 12.7290
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 5
Area of KBA (km2): 13.69263
Protected area coverage (%): 99.08
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: A bay of the Kattegatt with a varied shoreline, comprising cliffs, sand beaches and wet meadows. Several shallow water areas in the bay itself provide feeding opportunities for wintering and passage seabirds.
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: Important for wintering seaducks and seabirds, the site is also a major migratory bottleneck site, where more than 5,000 raptors regularly pass in autumn (mainly Pernis apivorus and Buteo buteo). Wintering species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria: Haliaeetus albicilla (1-3 birds). More than 140 breeding species have been recorded.
Delineation rationale: More accurate data on area and border /Robert Ekblom (2007-01-05)
Habitats
Land use: agriculture (15%) | fisheries/aquaculture | nature conservation and research (100%) | not utilised | tourism/recreation | urban/industrial/transport (5%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 85 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 10 | |
| Grassland | 5 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Nutrient-rich run-off enters the bay via streams that drain one of Sweden's most intensively farmed agricultural areas. American mink Mustela vison pose a threat to breeding birds. Development of the shoreline may become a problem in the future. A Ramsar Site (1,320 ha) is likely to be designated in the near future.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases | Named species | Ongoing |