Template for Submission of Scientific Information to Describe Areas Meeting Scientific Criteria for Ecologically or Biologically Significant Marine Areas
Title/Name of the area: Ukrainian bays
Abstract (in less than 150 words) Area located in the northern coast of the Black Sea, that encompasses 2 marine Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas mostly designated for the importance for several species of gulls, terns and seaducks. More than 1% of the global/biogeographic population of 10 seabird species occur in the area. The area encompasses also the non-breeding distribution of two Vulnerable seabirds – the Velvet Scoter Melanitta fusca and the Horned Grebe Podiceps auritus.
Introduction Area located in the northern coast of the Black Sea (Figure 1), in the shallow waters (< 100 m deep) of the Ukranian bays of Yagorlyts'ka, Tendrivs'ka, Karkinits'ka and Dzharylgats'ka. The area includes 2 marine Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (Figure 1), mostly designated for the importance for several species of gulls, terns and seaducks. More than 1% of the global/biogeographic population of 10 seabird species occur in the area (Greater Scaup Aythya marila, Great White Pelican Pelecanus onocrotalus, Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo, Caspian Gull Larus cachinnans, Little Gull Hydrocoloeus minutus, Slender-billed Gull Larus genei, Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus, Common Tern Sterna hirundo, Sandwich Tern Thalasseus sandvicensis and Caspian Tern Hydroprogne caspia: BirdLife International 2017a, 2017b). The area encompasses also the non- breeding distribution of two Vulnerable seabirds – the Velvet Scoter Melanitta fusca and the Horned Grebe Podiceps auritus (BirdLife International 2017c; Figure 2).
Location The area is located in the North coast of Black Sea (ca. 200 km of coastal bays, between longitudes 31.5 and 33.7 E) (Figure 1).
Feature description of the proposed area (This should include information about the characteristics of the feature to be proposed, e.g. in terms of physical description (water column feature, benthic feature, or both), biological communities, role in ecosystem function, and then refer to the data/information that is available to support the proposal and whether models are available in the absence of data. This needs to be supported where possible with maps, models, reference to analysis, or the level of research in the area)
Feature condition and future outlook of the proposed area (Description of the current condition of the area – is this static, declining, improving, what are the particular vulnerabilities? Any planned research/programmes/investigations?)
Assessment of the area against CBD EBSA Criteria
CBD EBSA Description Ranking of criterion relevance Criteria (Annex I to decision IX/20) (please mark one column with an X) (Annex I to No Low Medi High decision informa um IX/20) tion Uniqueness Area contains either (i) unique (“the only one X or rarity of its kind”), rare (occurs only in few locations) or endemic species, populations or communities, and/or (ii) unique, rare or distinct, habitats or ecosystems; and/or (iii)
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unique or unusual geomorphological or oceanographic features. The area holds more than 1% of the global/biogeographic population of 10 seabird species: Greater Scaup Aythya marila, Great White Pelican Pelecanus onocrotalus, Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo, Caspian Gull Larus cachinnans, Little Gull Hydrocoloeus minutus, Slender-billed Gull Larus genei, Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus, Common Tern Sterna hirundo, Sandwich Tern Thalasseus sandvicensis and Caspian Tern Hydroprogne caspia Special Areas that are required for a population to x importance survive and thrive. for life- history stages of species The area is used during the breeding season by four species of gulls and three species of terns and by the Great White Pelican Pelecanus onocrotalus. In addition, is also used during the non-breeding period by the Greater Scaup Aythya marila and the Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo. Importance Area containing habitat for the survival and x for recovery of endangered, threatened, threatened, declining species or area with significant endangered assemblages of such species. or declining species and/or habitats No threatened seabird species are known to occur in the area in number to meet the IBA global criteria. However, the area overlaps with the known non-breeding range of the Vulnerable Velvet Scoter Melanitta fusca and Horned Grebe Podiceps auritus (Figure 2). Several species found here are listed under the Annex I of the EU Birds Directive: the Slender-billed Gull Larus genei, Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus, Little Gull Hydrocoloeus minutus, Caspian Tern Hydroprogne caspia, Common Tern Sterna hirundo, Little Tern Sternula albifrons, Common Gull-billed Tern Gelochelidon nilotica, Sandwich Tern Thalasseus sandvicensis and Great White Pelican Pelecanus onocrotalus. Vulnerabilit Areas that contain a relatively high x y, fragility, proportion of sensitive habitats, biotopes or sensitivity, species that are functionally fragile (highly or slow susceptible to degradation or depletion by recovery human activity or by natural events) or with slow recovery. Explanation for ranking Biological Area containing species, populations or x productivity communities with comparatively higher natural biological productivity. Explanation for ranking
Biological Area contains comparatively higher diversity x diversity of ecosystems, habitats, communities, or species, or has higher genetic diversity. Explanation for ranking
Naturalness Area with a comparatively higher degree of x naturalness as a result of the lack of or low level of human-induced disturbance or degradation. Explanation for ranking
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Sharing experiences and information applying other criteria (Optional)
Other Description Ranking of criterion relevance Criteria (please mark one column with an X) Don’t Low Mediu High Know m Add relevant x criteria
Explanation for ranking
References
BirdLife International 2017a. Important Bird Areas factsheet: Yagorlyts'ka and Tendrivs'ka Bays. Downloaded from http://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/yagorlytska-and-tendrivska-bays-iba- ukraine/details on 05/04/2017.
BirdLife International 2017b. Important Bird Areas factsheet: Karkinits'ka and Dzharylgats'ka bays. Downloaded from http://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/karkinitska-and-dzharylgatska-bays-iba- ukraine/details on 05/04/2017.
BirdLife International 2017c. IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 05/04/2017.
Maps and Figures
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Figure 1: Ukrainian bays. More details at https://maps.birdlife.org/marineIBAs/default.html
Figure 2: Distribution of the globally threatened seabird species occurring in the Black Sea and in the Caspian Sea (Yelkouan shearwater Puffinus yelkouan, Velvet Scoter Melanitta fusca and Horned Grebe Podiceps auritus)
Rights and permissions (Indicate if there are any known issues with giving permission to share or publish these data and what any conditions of publication might be; provide contact details for a contact person for this issue)
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