Current view: Text account
Site description (2000 baseline):
Site location and context
A large archipelago in the north-east of the Gulf of Bothnia and some larger, forested islands, offshore of the town of Kokkola. The archipelago comprises numerous high and rocky islands, with large expanses of open water between them.
An important area for island-breeding birds.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
The most serious threats to the area are hunting, boating and other sea traffic, and unregulated recreation. On Tankar island a bird observatory has been maintained for many years where ringing is an important activity. A lighthouse on the island attracts huge numbers of birds, especially passerines, at night. Part of the area is a candidate SAC.
National None
International Partial16,653 ha of IBA covered by Special Protection Area (Kokkolan saaristo).
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Kokkola and Kälviä archipelago (Finland). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/kokkola-and-kälviä-archipelago-iba-finland on 23/12/2024.
