• Summary
• Text account
• Data table and detailed info
• Map
• Reference and further resources

Site description
This Marine IBA is identified using tracking data. It falls within High Seas International Waters and the Indian Ocean, FAO ocean region. The site covers an area of 64479 km2 and is 572 km away from the closet coastline. The depth ranges from 1202 to 4647 m, with a mean annual wind speed of 2.71 m/s, mean annual sea surface temperature falls between 14.66 and 17.25 °C and mean annual chlorophyll-a concentrations found to range between 0.22 and 0.39 mg/m3.

Key biodiversity
4 species trigger IBA criteria at this Marine IBA. BirdLife analyses of tracking data estimates that 251-683 individuals of Wandering Albatross (VU) from Iles Crozet are present at the site during the Immature (Feb-Oct) and Juvenile (Dec-Jun) life-history stages. 599-799 individuals of Wandering Albatross (VU) from South Georgia are present at the site during the Juvenile (Jun-Oct) life-history stage. 563-2100 individuals of Sooty Albatross (EN) from Iles Crozet are present at the site during the Non-breeding (Year-Round) life-history stage.

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2023) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Indian Ocean, Western 8 - Marine. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 21/03/2023.