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close| Location | Spain, Cantabria |
| Central coordinates | 3o 30.00' West 43o 30.00' North |
| IBA criteria | B1i, B2, C2, C3 |
| Area | 6,907 ha |
| Altitude | 0 - 378m |
| Year of IBA assessment | 2000 |
Ornithological information The most important wintering and passage site for waterbirds on the north coast of the Iberian peninsula.
Site description A coastal marsh with sand-dunes and extensive intertidal mudflats. Human activities include fishing and shellfish collecting.
Populations of IBA trigger species
| Species | Season | Period | Population estimate | Quality of estimate | IBA Criteria | IUCN Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eurasian Wigeon Anas penelope | winter | 1995 | 2,391-5,828 individuals | good | B1i, C3 | Least Concern |
| Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia | passage | 1995 | 52-110 individuals | good | B1i, C2 | Least Concern |
| Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata | winter | 1995 | 426-1,450 individuals | good | B2 | Near Threatened |
Protected areas
| Protected area | Designation | Area (ha) | Relationship with IBA | Overlap with IBA (ha) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Costa central y Ra de Ajo - ES1300006 | Habitats Directive | 444 | protected area overlaps with site | 119 | |
| Marismas de Santoña | Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar) | 6,907 | protected area contained by site | 6,907 |
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| Marismas de Santoña , Victoria y Joyel - ES1300007 | Habitats Directive | 3,701 | protected area contained by site | 3,701 | |
| Marismas de Santoña y Noja | Natural Reserve | 3,866 | protected area contained by site | 3,866 | |
| Marismas de Santoña y Noja - ES0000143 | Birds Directive | 6,604 | protected area contained by site | 6,604 | |
| Rio Ason - ES1300011 | Habitats Directive | 530 | protected area is adjacent to site | 0 |
Habitats
| IUCN habitat | Habitat detail | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|---|
| Wetlands (inland) | Standing brackish and salt water | - |
| Artificial landscapes (terrestrial) | Highly improved re-seeded landscapes; Other urban and industrial areas | 50% |
| Coastline | Mud flats & sand flats; Tidal rivers & enclosed tidal waters | - |
Land use
| Land-use | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|
| agriculture | 60% |
| fisheries/aquaculture | 10% |
| urban/industrial/transport | - |
| forestry | 40% |
Management considerations There are numerous current and potential threats to this site. These include proposals for industrial development with infilling, a road project, aquaculture projects, urban and industrial dumping and intense hunting and tourism. A management plan was approved in 1997.
Protection status National Partial International High3,866 ha of IBA covered by Natural Reserve (Marismas de Santoña y Noja, 3,866 ha). 6,907 ha of IBA covered by Ramsar Site (Marismas de Santoña, 6,907 ha). 6,907 ha of IBA covered by Special Protection Area (Marismas de Santoña, 6,907 ha).
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Recommended citation BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Santoña marshes. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 19/06/2013
To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife
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