LT001
Marine waters along the continental part of Lithuania


IBA Justification

The site was identified as important in 2004 because it was regularly supporting significant populations of the species listed below, meeting ('triggering') IBA criteria.

Populations meeting IBA criteria ('trigger species') at the site:
Species Red List1 Season Year(s) Size IBA criteria
Steller's Eider Polysticta stelleri VU winter - 250-500 individuals A1, A4i, B1i, C1
Goosander Mergus merganser LC winter - 1,600-2,500 individuals A4i, B1i, C3
Red-throated Loon Gavia stellata LC winter - 1,000 individuals A4i, B1i, C2
Little Gull Hydrocoloeus minutus LC passage - 2,700-5,700 individuals A4i, B1i, C2

1. The current IUCN Red List category. The category at the time of the IBA criteria assessment (2004) may differ.


IBA Conservation

Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 2004. The most recent assessment (2013) is shown below.

IBA conservation assessment
Year of assessment State Pressure Response
2013 very unfavourable very high low
Whole site assessed? State assessed by Accuracy of information
yes population unknown

State (condition of the trigger species' populations)
Species Reference Actual Units % remaining Result
Steller's Eider Polysticta stelleri 2,000 9 individuals 1 very unfavourable
Goosander Mergus merganser 10,000 1,500 individuals 15 very unfavourable

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat Timing Scope Severity Result
Invasive and other problematic species and genes happening now whole area/population (>90%) moderate to rapid deterioration very high
Human intrusions and disturbance happening now majority/most of area/population (50-90%) slow but significant deterioration high
Natural system modifications likely in short term (within 4 years) some of area/population (10-49%) slow but significant deterioration medium
Pollution likely in long term (beyond 4 years) small area/few individuals (<10%) slow but significant deterioration low

Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Protected areas Management plan Other action Result
Most of site (50-90%) covered (including the most critical parts for important bird species) A management plan exists but it is out of date or not comprehensive Some limited conservation initiatives are in place low

IBA Protection

Year Protected Area Designation % overlap with IBA
- Marine waters along the continental part of Lithuania Baltic Sea Protected Area (Helcom) 21
1992 Pajuris Regional Park 5
2005 Baltijos jūros priekrantė Special Protection Area (Birds Directive) 22
2005 Baltijos juros talasologinis draustinis Gamtinis draustinis 22
2005 The state Baltic sea marine rezerve Baltic Sea Protected Area (HELCOM) 22
2005 Baltijos jūros priekrantė Site of Community Importance (Habitats Directive) 15
2015 Klaipėdos–Ventspilio plynaukštė Special Protection Area (Birds Directive) 21
2015 Klaipėda-Ventpilis plynaukštė biosphere polygon Gamtinis draustinis 21

Habitats

Habitat1 Habitat detail % of IBA
Marine Neritic 100
1. IUCN Habitat classification.

Land use

Land use % of IBA
fisheries/aquaculture 60
nature conservation and research 40
tourism/recreation 20


Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Marine waters along the continental part of Lithuania (Lithuania). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/marine-waters-along-the-continental-part-of-lithuania-iba-lithuania on 24/11/2024.