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YE004
Islands north of Al-Hudaydah
Location Yemen, Al Hudaydah
Central coordinates 42o 26.00' East  15o 42.80' North
IBA criteria A1, A4i, B1i, B1ii, B2, B3
Area 5,000 ha
Altitude 0 - 36m
Year of IBA assessment 2001

Yemen Society for the Protection of Wildlife (Affiliate)



Ornithological information See table for key species. Other breeding species include Pandion haliaetus (min. 2 pairs).

Site description At least 31 islands north and west of Al-Hudaydah on the northern Red Sea shelf (excluding Kamaran, the largest such island, which is part of site 007).

Populations of IBA trigger species

Species Season Period Population estimate Quality of estimate IBA Criteria IUCN Category
Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia breeding  1993  6 breeding pairs  poor  B1i  Least Concern 
Red-billed Tropicbird Phaethon aethereus breeding  1993  10 breeding pairs  poor  B1ii  Least Concern 
Sooty Falcon Falco concolor breeding  1993  1 breeding pairs  poor  B2  Near Threatened 
Crab Plover Dromas ardeola non-breeding  1993  uncommon [units unknown]  -  B3  Least Concern 
White-eyed Gull Larus leucophthalmus breeding  1993  unknown [units unknown]  -  B2  Near Threatened 
White-eyed Gull Larus leucophthalmus passage  1993  200 individuals  poor  A1, A4i, B1i, B2  Near Threatened 
Sooty Gull Larus hemprichii passage  1993  300 individuals  poor  B3  Least Concern 
Lesser Crested Tern Sterna bengalensis passage  1993  1,000 individuals  poor  A4i, B1i  Least Concern 
White-cheeked Tern Sterna repressa breeding  1993  100-1,000 breeding pairs  poor  B3  Least Concern 

Habitats

IUCN habitat Habitat detail Extent (% of site)
Sea   major
Coastline   minor
Desert   minor
Forest   minor

Land use

Land-use Extent (% of site)
fisheries/aquaculture major
urban/industrial/transport minor
other minor
Notes: exploitation of seabird eggs/young

Other biodiversity Mammals: records of dolphins, including Tursiops sp., and whales, probably including Balaenoptera edeni (K), are frequent, and Dugong dugon (V) are said by fishermen to be particularly common. Reptiles: sea-turtles nest, probably in important numbers and including Chelonia mydas (E) and Eretmochelys imbricata (E). The coral reefs are rich in biodiversity.

Management considerations At the least, Zurbat, Kitamah and possibly Zuraymah are infested with rats, and Juwa and Hataban are infested with mice. Tern (and sea-turtle) eggs are taken by fishermen. Sand extraction for the local building trade from Hamar's beach has occurred and may continue, with attendant disturbance.

Conservation response No formal conservation measures are known to have been taken, although the establishment of marine parks has been considered in the past. A baseline-census of the breeding birds, education of fishermen and navy personnel, the erection of signs at key landing points, and the extermination or control of introduced rodents are all highly desirable measures.

References Evans (1989), Phillips (1982).

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Recommended citation  BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Islands north of Al-Hudaydah. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 26/05/2013

To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife