Current view: Text account
Site description (2000 baseline):
Site location and context
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.
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.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Tourism/recreation, hunting and uncontrolled human access along the coast disturb nesting and staging birds. Oil pollution resulting from oil-tanker accidents is a potential hazard. Water-pollution by domestic sewage has been very heavy in the past; discharges are now more purified but still affect submerged vegetation. The coastal salt-meadows have been disappearing due to land-use changes. Many diving birds drown in fishing nets (impact not yet known). Kuling Waterfowl Research Group is carrying out a long-term study of wader migration at the Rewa river mouth and carries out winter waterbird counts.
National Partial
International None200 ha of IBA covered by Nature Reserve (Beka, 200 ha). About 11,000 ha of IBA covered by Landscape Park (Nadmorski, 17,850 ha).
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.
