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close| Location | Kuwait, Al Kuwayt |
| Central coordinates | 47o 51.00' East 29o 21.00' North |
| IBA criteria | A4i, B1i, B3 |
| Area | 4,845 ha |
| Altitude | 0 - 5m |
| Year of IBA assessment | 2001 |
Ornithological information See box for key species. The site is important for coastal waterfowl during winter and on passage, especially Ardea cinerea (90, January) and Recurvirostra avosetta (95, January). It is fairly well watched by local standards, and at least 70 bird species have been recorded.
Site description A shallow, relatively well-sheltered bay, part of the larger Kuwait Bay system, with extensive intertidal mudflats (c.2,250 ha); reportedly the most productive shore in Kuwait, and an economically valuable shrimp nursery. Traditional fishing by fixed traps ('hadra') and recreational fishing occur; the hadra (on the intertidal flats) appear to be in poor repair, and may have been abandoned because of Iraqi mine-laying in the area.
Populations of IBA trigger species
| Species | Season | Period | Population estimate | Quality of estimate | IBA Criteria | IUCN Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crab Plover Dromas ardeola | winter | 1988-1990 | 112-320 individuals | medium | B3 | Least Concern |
| Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata | winter | 1988-1990 | 212-360 individuals | medium | B1i | Near Threatened |
| Slender-billed Gull Larus genei | winter | 1988-1990 | 950-1,500 individuals | medium | A4i, B1i | Least Concern |
Habitats
| IUCN habitat | Habitat detail | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|---|
| Sea | minor | |
| Coastline | Intertidal marshes; Intertidal mud, sand & salt flats; Shallow marine waters; Subtidal aquatic beds | major |
Land use
| Land-use | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|
| tourism/recreation | major |
| Notes: Recreation | |
| urban/industrial/transport | minor |
| Notes: Urban/industrial/utility | |
| fisheries/aquaculture | major |
| hunting | minor |
Other biodiversity Invertebrates: the crab Cleistostoma kuwaitense (endemic).
Management considerations Land-claim destroyed 500 ha of mudflat in the early 1980s, and a resumption of this policy would be disastrous for the site. There is some local oil pollution from power stations on Doha peninsula and from Mina Shuwaikh port. About 3 km of shore in the south-west corner of bay, adjacent to this site, is a Nature Reserve (see site 003). A proposal was made in 1987 to protect the entire area from shooting (potentially a local problem), whilst allowing traditional and recreational fishing to continue.
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Recommended citation BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Sulaibikhat Bay. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 25/05/2013
To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife
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