GR137 Ornithological Importance The area is an important foraging area for Yelkouan Shearwaters, primarily during the non-breeding season. Congregations of up to 800 individuals species Puffinus yelkouan
related IBA
are regularly observed feeding, mainly on shoals of sardine throughout the entire area of the gulf.
year
season
min
max
unit
accuracy
2005-9
W
800
1100
I
good
criteria A1, A4ii, B1ii, C1, C2
Other Species of Interest Small numbers of Mediterranean Shags are present in the gulf all year round. Audouin’s Gulls have been recorded in the area during the nonbreeding season. Kalloni Gulf is surrounded by
coastal wetlands hosting numerous migrating, breeding and wintering waterbirds which also use the adjacent marine areas of the gulf.
Yelkouan Shearwater (Puffinus yelkouan)
Uses, Threats, Management
Kalloni Gulf is an important fishing ground, particularly for sardines and shellfish, as well as other fish species. The marine environment has been affected mainly by nitrate and phosphate pollution from land based sources, such as municipal wastewater, agricultural drainage and olive press wastes, which end up in the gulf through numerous streams, and other pollution at sea. Eutrophication enhanced
by this pollution has caused the degeneration of phyto-and zoobenthic communities while, bottomfishing activities, such as scallop dredging has been found to cause long-term changes in the structure and biodiversity of sponge assemblages. Intensive fisheries operation may pose an important threat to Yelkouan Shearwaters through accidental bycatch, especially when large foraging flocks are present. 117