Data Zone
Country/territory: South Africa
IBA criteria met: -
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here
Area: 517,760 ha
Site description (baseline)
This Marine IBA is identified using both tracking data and seaward extensions around breeding colonies. It falls within the South Africa Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and the Indian Ocean, Antarctic and Southern FAO ocean region. The site covers an area of 5178 km2 and borders the coastline. The depth ranges from 0 to 3567 m, mean annual sea surface temperature falls between 4.6 and 5.26 °C and mean annual chlorophyll-a concentrations found to range between 0.18 and 0.37 mg/m3.
Key biodiversity
14 species trigger IBA criteria at this Marine IBA. BirdLife analyses of tracking data estimates that 555-4967 individuals of Wandering Albatross (VU) from Prince Edward Island are present at the site during the Brood-guard (Mar-Apr) and Post-guard (Apr-Dec) life-history stages. 314-3137 individuals of Southern Giant-petrel (LC) from Prince Edward Island are present at the site during the Non-breeding (Nov-Sep) life-history stage. 78-781 individuals of Northern Giant-petrel (LC) from Prince Edward Island are present at the site during the Non-breeding (Nov-Sep) life-history stage. 478-2069 individuals of Sooty Albatross (EN) from Prince Edward Island are present at the site during the Post-guard (Jan-May) life-history stage. 981-4711 individuals of Indian Yellow-nosed Albatross (EN) from Prince Edward Island are present at the site during the Post-guard (Jan-Apr) life-history stage. Seaward extensions around breeding colony; Prince Edward Islands Special Nature Reserve include key near-colony areas for breeding populations of Kelp Gull (LC) 690-690 individuals, Imperial Shag (LC) 695-1874 individuals, White-chinned Petrel (VU) 60000-60000 individuals, Grey Petrel (NT) 6000-6000 individuals, Great-winged Petrel (LC) 60000-60000 individuals, Soft-plumaged Petrel (LC) 6000-6000 individuals, Kerguelen Tern (NT) 105-105 individuals and Antarctic Tern (LC) 75-143 individuals.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2023) Important Bird Area factsheet: Prince Edward Islands Special Nature Reserve - Marine. Downloaded from
http://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/30458 on 29/05/2023.
