Data Zone
Country/territory: Poland
IBA criteria met: C2, C3, C4, C6 (2010)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here
Area: 61,430 hectares (614.30 km2)
| IBA conservation status | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment (most recent) | State (condition) | Pressure (threat) | Response (action) |
| 2010 | not assessed | very high | low |
| For more information about IBA monitoring, please click here | |||
Site description (2000 baseline)
The north-westernmost part of the Gulf of Gdañsk, divided into a shallow western part (also called Puck lagoon; 10,400 ha, average depth 3 m) and a deeper eastern part. The eastern border of this site is the nominal line between the top of Hel peninsula and Gdañsk city. The total length of coastline is c.100 km. Also included in this site are various remnant coastal meadows (totalling 388 ha). Around Puck Bay there are some small fishing harbours and, further to the south-west, there are large harbours at Gdynia and Gdañsk.
Key biodiversity
A very important site for wintering and migrating waterbirds, holding well over 20,000 waterbirds during winter, sometimes exceeding 50,000 birds. During severe winters the bay is covered by ice and birds have to move elsewhere. During autumn and spring migration the coastal meadows (sometimes flooded) attract large numbers of waterbirds, particularly waders (up to some thousands), and overhead migration of raptors is pronounced in spring. Beka Nature Reserve supports the largest concentration of breeding Calidris alpina schinzii in Poland (c.10-12 pairs) and meadows near Mechelinki support a few additional pairs. More than 300 bird species have been recorded in the area.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Puck Bay (Poland). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/puck-bay-iba-poland on 23/12/2024.