Current view: Text account
Site description (2000 baseline):
Site location and context
A shallow eutrophic sea bay at the mouth of the Laihia river lying south of the town of Vaasa. Most of the bay is open water, although there are wide marshes, and extensive beds of reed
Phragmites. To the south lies the agricultural area of Söderfjärden, which was previously a sea bay. The IBA also includes an undisturbed area of inner archipelago, where
Grus grus from the farmland roost.
The most important staging area for
Grus grus in Finland. It is also important for other staging waterbirds.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
The active use of farmland in Söderfjärden is very important for staging cranes. Some farmers have requested a licence to shoot
Grus grus since they cause damage to crops. Part of the area is a candidate SAC.
National None
International High4,328 ha of IBA covered by Special Protection Area (Sundominlahti).
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Sundominlahti Bay and Söderfjärden (Finland). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/sundominlahti-bay-and-söderfjärden-iba-finland on 23/12/2024.
