Current view: Text account
Site description (2013 baseline):
Site location and context
This area encompasses the waters within the Malta-Gozo Channel, as well as the waters immediately offshore from Ta’ Cenc in Gozo to the west and up to 7 km offshore of Rdumtal-Madonna to the east. Western limit - 35°58'38.40"N, 14°13'56.79"E, (ii) Eastern Limit - 36° 0'45.37"N, 14°27'4.07"E.
The ornithological importance of this area is three-fold. The area is an important rafting site for both Puffinus yelkouan and Calonectris diomedea, with concentrations of the former off of Rdumtal-Madonna to the east and the latter off Ta’ Cenc to the west. Secondly, both species also use the channel itself, often in large numbers, particularly in the late afternoon before returning to their breeding colonies. The channel is also important for migratory ducks, forming a bottleneck through which they pass in the thousands during the spring and (to a lesser extent) autumn migrations. During this period they also gather in rafts within the confines of the channel, often remaining for many hours before continuing on their migrations. The ducks include internationally important numbers of the Globally Near-Threatened Aythya nyroca, along with sizeable numbers of Anas querquedula and Anasacuta, both Species of Conservation Concern in Europe.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Disturbance to rafting birds by boats and offshore developments (such as a proposed windfarm in the Sikka l-Bajda area), illegal hunting, light and noise pollution from pleasure craft.
Conservation responses/actions for key biodiversity
Portions of this Marine IBA (the eastern side) are currently protected
as a Marine Special Area of Conservation (MT0000105) under LN851 of
2010. A full report on Marine IBAs was produced as one of the Actions of the EU LIFE Yelkouan Shearwater Project (LIFE 06NAT/MT/000097) (Action A6) by Meirinho & Ramirez (2010).
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Għawdex marine (Malta). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/għawdex-marine-iba-malta on 23/12/2024.
