Szczecin lagoon (912)
Poland, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: B1, D1a
Year of last assessment: 2010
National site name: Zalew Szczecinski
Central coordinates: Latitude: 53.7167, Longitude: 14.4667
System: freshwater, marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 20 to 20
Area of KBA (km2): 565.82009
Protected area coverage (%): 99.93
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The Polish part of Szczecin lagoon. The waters are shallow (mean depth 2-3 m) and extremely productive in fish, with high density of benthic organisms. Aquatic plants dominate in places, and shores are covered by reedbeds Phragmites and rushes Scirpus. The lagoon is used for shipping.
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.
Habitats
Land use: fisheries/aquaculture (50%) | tourism/recreation (40%) | urban/industrial/transport (10%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Wetlands(Inland) | 95 | |
| Grassland | 5 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The lagoon is heavily polluted by industry, domestic and agricultural sewage.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biological resource use | Gathering terrestrial plants | Unintentional effects (species being assessed is not the target) | Ongoing |
| Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases | Unspecified species | Ongoing |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Annual & perennial non-timber crops | Small-holder farming | Ongoing |
| Residential & commercial development | Tourism & recreation areas | Ongoing | |
| Energy production & mining | Renewable energy | Ongoing |