Current view: Text account
Site description (2000 baseline):
Site location and context
A shallow bay with a wide intertidal zone and a large saltpan complex. There are rivers, small lagoons, artificial channels and halophytic scrub. The main human activities are aquaculture, shellfish collection, research and salt production.
This is a very important area for breeding, passage and wintering waterbirds, particularly waders.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
There are a number of serious threats to the site. Aquaculture projects have caused the dredging of lagoons and saltpans and the destruction of islands used by breeding species. Shellfish collection impacts on the birds. The expansion of the
Larus cachinnans colony (`Other' threats, above) and the presence of feral cats and dogs are also important threats. Other threats include intensive poaching, tourism developments and urban and industrial pollution.
National Partial
International Low10,000 ha of IBA covered by Natural Park (Bahia de Cadiz, 10,000 ha). 49 ha of IBA covered by Natural Reserve (Complejo endorreico de Chiclana, 49 ha). 525 ha of IBA covered by Natural Landscape (Isla de Trocadero, 525 ha). 170 ha of IBA covered by Natural Landscape (Marismas de Sancti Petri, 170 ha). 49 ha of IBA covered by Special Protection Area (Lagunas de Chiclana: Laguna de Montellano y de Jel, 49 ha).
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Cádiz bay (Spain). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/cádiz-bay-iba-spain on 23/11/2024.
