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PL002
Szczecin lagoon
Location Poland, zachodnio-pomorskie
Central coordinates 14o 28.00' East  53o 43.00' North
IBA criteria C1, C2, C3, C4, C6
Area 55,950 ha
Altitude 20 m
Year of IBA assessment 2010

Ogólnopolskie Towarzystwo Ochrony Ptaków



Site description The Polish part of Szczecin lagoon. The waters are shallow (mean depth 2-3 m) and extremely productive in fish, with high density of benthic organisms. Aquatic plants dominate in places, and shores are covered by reedbeds Phragmites and rushes Scirpus. The lagoon is used for shipping.

Populations of IBA trigger species

Species Season Period Population estimate Quality of estimate IBA Criteria IUCN Category
Bean Goose Anser fabalis passage  2004-2009  3,000-8,000 individuals  good  C3  Least Concern 
Bean Goose Anser fabalis winter  2004-2009  4,000 individuals  good    Least Concern 
Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus passage  2004-2009  200-600 individuals  good  C2  Least Concern 
Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula passage  2004-2009  20,000-40,000 individuals  poor  C3  Least Concern 
Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula winter  2004-2009  22,000 individuals  good  C3  Least Concern 
Greater Scaup Aythya marila winter  2004-2009  54,000 individuals  good  C3  Least Concern 
Greater Scaup Aythya marila passage  2004-2009  50,000-90,000 individuals  poor  C3  Least Concern 
Smew Mergellus albellus winter  2004-2009  3,000-35,000 individuals  poor  C2  Least Concern 
Common Merganser Mergus merganser passage  2004-2009  30,000-50,000 individuals  poor  C3  Least Concern 
Common Merganser Mergus merganser winter  2004-2009  30,000 individuals  good  C3  Least Concern 
Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo winter  2004-2009  14,000 individuals  good  C3  Least Concern 
Red Kite Milvus milvus breeding  1995-2003  8-10 breeding pairs  -  C1  Near Threatened 
Black Kite Milvus migrans breeding  1995-2003  6-7 breeding pairs  -  C6  Least Concern 
White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla breeding  2005-2009  7-10 breeding pairs  poor  C6  Least Concern 
Corncrake Crex crex breeding  2005-2009  70-90 males only  poor  C1  Least Concern 
Little Gull Larus minutus passage  2004-2009  2,000-5,000 individuals  good  C2  Least Concern 
A4iii Species group - waterbirds passage  2004-2009  135,000-250,000 individuals  poor  C4   
A4iii Species group - waterbirds winter  2004-2009  150,000 individuals  poor  C4   

Protected areas

Protected area Designation Area (ha) Relationship with IBA Overlap with IBA (ha)  
Delta Swiny - PLB320002 Birds Directive 11,008 protected area is adjacent to site 0  
Ostoja Goleniowska - PLH320013 Habitats Directive 8,419 protected area is adjacent to site 0  
Ostoja Wkrzanska - PLB320014 Birds Directive 14,576 protected area is adjacent to site 0  
Puszcza Goleniowska - PLB320012 Birds Directive 25,039 protected area is adjacent to site 0  
Taki Skoszewskie - PLB320007 Birds Directive 9,083 protected area contained by site 9,083  
Ujscie Odry i Zalew Szczecinski - PLH320018 Habitats Directive 52,612 protected area overlaps with site 43,015  
Uroczyska w Lasach Stepnickich - PLH320033 Habitats Directive 2,750 protected area is adjacent to site 0  
Wolin i Uznam - PLH320019 Habitats Directive 30,792 protected area is adjacent to site 0  
Wolinski PN National Park 10,937 protected area is adjacent to site 0  
Zalew Szczecinski - PLB320009 Birds Directive 47,195 protected area contained by site 47,195  

Habitats

IUCN habitat Habitat detail Extent (% of site)
Grassland Humid grasslands  -
Wetlands (inland) Fens, transition mires and springs; Standing freshwater; Water fringe vegetation  100%

Land use

Land-use Extent (% of site)
fisheries/aquaculture 50%
tourism/recreation 40%
urban/industrial/transport 10%

Management considerations The lagoon is heavily polluted by industry, domestic and agricultural sewage.

Protection status National None International None

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Recommended citation  BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Szczecin lagoon. 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