JP005
Esashi, Menashidomari


Country/territory: Japan

IBA criteria met: A4i (2004)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here

Area: 5 ha

Wild Bird Society of Japan
IBA conservation status
Year of assessment (most recent) State (condition) Pressure (threat) Response (action)
2015 near favourable high negligible
For more information about IBA monitoring, please click here


Site description (2007 baseline)
Esashi Town is long (from north to south is 54 km) and narrow (from east to west is 7.5 km), and faces the Sea of Okhotsk. A rocky 600 m island, which is connected by a dike to the town, is a breeding site for the Black-tailed Gull in Menashidomari area. Menashidomari is on the skirt of Kamuimisaki which is on the tip of north of the town. Gometo islet which is 2 km off shore is one of few Okhotsk breeding sites of Slaty-backed Gull and Japanese Cormorant, besides the rocky island. The town is 50,947 ha, 68% of which is mountain forests and 24% wilderness areas. Drifting sea ice brought by East Sakhalin current used to cover vast areas for many days in the past but less so now. The town's annual mean temperature is the lowest in Japan along with the neighboring town.


Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Esashi, Menashidomari (Japan). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/esashi-menashidomari-iba-japan on 23/11/2024.