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The site was identified as internationally important for bird conservation in 2014 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 List	Season (year/s of estimate)	Size	IBA criteria
Lesser White-fronted Goose Anser erythropus	VU	non-breeding (2008–2013)	2–10 birds	B1i
Long-tailed Duck Clangula hyemalis	VU	winter (2008–2013)	500–3,000 birds	A1
King Eider Somateria spectabilis	LC	winter (2008–2013)	5,000–8,000 birds	A4i, B1i
Common Eider Somateria mollissima	NT	winter (2008–2013)	6,000–8,000 birds	B1i, B3
Steller's Eider Polysticta stelleri	VU	winter (2009–2013)	2,500–3,500 birds	A1, A4i, B1i, B2
Velvet Scoter Melanitta fusca	VU	winter (2008–2013)	200–400 birds	A1, B2
Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator	LC	non-breeding (2004–2013)	1,000–2,000 birds	B1i
Yellow-billed Loon Gavia adamsii	NT	winter (2008–2014)	5–10 birds	A1
Purple Sandpiper Calidris maritima	LC	winter (2008–2014)	500–2,000 birds	B1i, B3
Black-legged Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla	VU	breeding (2012–2013)	25,000–30,000 pairs	B1i
Glaucous Gull Larus hyperboreus	LC	winter (2000–2010)	1,000–4,000 birds	B1i
Arctic Herring Gull Larus smithsonianus	LC	breeding (2009–2012)	8,000–13,000 pairs	A4i, B1i, B3
Atlantic Puffin Fratercula arctica	VU	breeding (2012–2013)	11,000–16,000 pairs	B1ii, B2
Common Murre Uria aalge	LC	breeding (2012–2013)	14,000–15,000 pairs	B1ii
A4iii Species group - seabirds	n/a	breeding (2009–2013)	58,000–74,000 pairs	A4iii
A4iii Species group - waterbirds	n/a	winter (2000–2013)	16,000–29,000 birds	A4iii

Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 2014. The most recent assessment (2015) is shown below.

State (condition of the trigger species' populations)
Species	Actual vs Reference (units)	% remaining	Result
Steller's Eider Polysticta stelleri	2,000 / 3,000 (birds)	67	poor

State (condition of the trigger species' habitats)
Habitat	Quantity (% remaining)	Quality (% carrying capacity)	Result
Marine Intertidal	moderate (70–90%)	moderate (70–90%)	poor
Grassland	good (>90%)	good (>90%)	good
Marine Coastal/Supratidal	good (>90%)	good (>90%)	good
Marine Neritic	good (>90%)	good (>90%)	good

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat	Timing	Scope	Severity	Result
Agricultural expansion and intensification	happe­ning now	some of popul­ation/area (10–49%)	slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations)	medium
Transportation and service corridors	happe­ning now	some of popul­ation/area (10–49%)	slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations)	medium
Biological resource use	happe­ning now	some of popul­ation/area (10–49%)	slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations)	medium
Human intrusions and disturbance	happe­ning now	some of popul­ation/area (10–49%)	slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations)	medium
Natural system modifications	happe­ning now	some of popul­ation/area (10–49%)	slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations)	medium
Invasive and other problematic species and genes	happe­ning now	some of popul­ation/area (10–49%)	slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations)	medium
Climate change and severe weather	likely in long term (>4 years)	whole of popul­ation/area (>90%)	slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations)	medium
Residential and commercial development	happe­ning now	few indivi­duals/small area (<10%)	slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations)	low
Energy production and mining	happe­ning now	few indivi­duals/small area (<10%)	no or slight decline (<1% over 3 gener­ations)	low

Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Designation	Planning	Action	Result
Little/none of area covered (<10%)	No management planning has taken place	Very little or no conservation action taking place	very low

Year	Protected Area	Designation (management category)	% coverage of IBA
1967	Bigganjarga	Naturminne (III)	<1
1983	Hornøya og Reinøya	Naturreservat (Ia)	<1
1983	Ekkerøya	Naturreservat (Ia)	<1
1991	Komagværstranda	Naturreservat (Ia)	1
1991	Varangerbotn	Naturreservat (Ia)	<1
1991	Storelvosen	Naturreservat (Ia)	<1
1991	Nesseby	Naturreservat (Ia)	<1

Habitat	% of IBA	Habitat detail
Grassland	major (>10)	Tundra
Marine Coastal/Supratidal	major (>10)
Marine Intertidal	major (>10)
Marine Neritic	major (>10)
Wetlands (inland)	minor (<10)	Blanket bogs; Fens, transition mires and springs; Rivers and streams

Land use	% of IBA
fisheries/aquaculture	major (>10)
rangeland/pastureland	major (>10)
tourism/recreation	major (>10)
agriculture	minor (<10)
urban/industrial/transport	minor (<10)
nature conservation and research	-

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Varangerfjord (including Hornøya and Reinøya) (Norway). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/varangerfjord-(including-hornøya-and-reinøya)-iba-norway on 22/12/2024.