Current view: Text account
Site description (2000 baseline):
Site location and context
A hyper-saline lake on the Black Sea coast (a former coastal lagoon), most of which is utilized for salt production. There are shallow saltpans of varying salinity, separated by narrow dykes; a freshwater canal between the saltpans; freshwater marshes with rich vegetation; dry, saline areas covered by salt-tolerant vegetation; and a sand beach along the coast. The vegetation around the saltpans is dominated by
Salicornia and
Puccinellia, while
Typha,
Phragmites and
Schoenoplectus dominate in the more freshwater areas. Most of the lake is used for artisanal (non-intensive) salt-production (`Other' land-use, below). There is a mud-cure establishment.
The lake is important for breeding
Recurvirostra avosetta, migrating
Pelecanus crispus and wintering
Cygnus olor. Species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria:
Phalacrocorax pygmeus (min. 24 in winter; max. 29 on passage),
Aythya nyroca (max. 15 on passage),
Oxyura leucocephala (3-5 in winter),
Crex crex (occurs on passage). Significant proportion (³1%) of national population breeding at site:
Ixobrychus minutus (5 pairs).
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
The main problems are caused by intensification of salt-production techniques (including abandonment of some salt-pans), restitution of pans to former owners, and water pollution from the surrounding area (all are classed under `Industrialization/urbanization' threat, above). Hunting is also a problem. The IBA has been proposed as a Protected Landscape.
National None
International None
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Pomorie Lake (Bulgaria). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/pomorie-lake-iba-bulgaria on 23/12/2024.
