GR174
Kasos island and surrounding islets 26° 52’ 44.425” E, 35° 24’ 58.228” N Area: 100 km 2 Region: Notio Aigaio • Prefecture: Dodekanisa
A1, C1 Seaward Extension
Site Description Kasos island is the southernmost island of the Dodecanese, lying between the islands of Crete and Karpathos along the eastern part of the Hellenic Trench (Pliny Trench). The IBA includes the marine area along the north and western part of the island from Cape Deiktis in the north until Cape Trapeza in the south. The boundary contains a 0.5 n.m. marine extension which encloses all 20 surrounding uninhabited islets, jointly known as Kasonisia, of which Armathia islet is the largest. The coastline of Kasos is steep with rocky shores, covered by severely degraded maquis and phrygana due to overgrazing, and interspersed small pebbled beaches. Armathia islet is surrounded by shallow waters and hosts a perennial saline coastal wetland and sandy beaches. In the past, the islet was inhabited and mined for gypsum. The remaining Kasonisia islets are characterised by low-lying coastal cliffs and halophytic vegetation. The marine area between Kasonisia and Kasos is
shallow, generally not exceeding depths of 50 m, thus favouring the development of Posidonia beds. The continental shelf to the north of Kasonisia is narrow and drops abruptly to depths of several hundred meters. Similarly, deep waters surrounding the site continue into the Strait of Kasos, located west of the IBA between Kasos and Crete, which is the deepest connection between the Aegean Sea and the Eastern Mediterranean Sea with the main channel being c. 1,000 m deep. Strong west-northwesterly etesian winds and rough sea caused by them are common, particularly during the summer months. Strong currents also occur in the strait between Kasos and Karpathos. The island complex of Karpathos and Kasos is one of the main Mediterranean Monk Seal breeding areas in Greece and the most important in the Dodecanese. Sightings of cetaceans are also frequent, including the Fin and Sperm Whales, the Risso’s Dophin, as well as the Striped and Common Bottle-nosed Dolphins.
Ornithological Importance The second largest Audouin’s Gull breeding population in the southern Dodecanese occurs here species
related IBA
Larus audouinii
GR174
(30-63 pairs). The species main foraging areas include shallow coastal waters surrounding the islets.
year
season
min
max
unit
accuracy
criteria
1997-99
B
30
63
P
good
A1, C1
Other Species of Interest The Mediterranean Shag is resident in the area throughout the year, with an estimated population of 30 pairs breeding on the small islets close to Armathia. Mixed flocks of Cory’s and Yelkouan Shearwaters have been recorded foraging here (>100 individuals), particularly in the shallower waters surrounding Kasos and the strait between Kasos and Kapathos.
Breeding of Cory’s Shearwaters is suspected in the area, however no colony has been identified yet. Additionally, telemetry surveys have revealed that the marine area around Kasos is used for foraging by Cory’s Shearwaters breeding on Dionysades islets (GR192), more than 30 n.m. to the west beyond the Strait of Kasos.
Uses, Threats, Management
The beaches of Armathia comprise an important tourist attraction receiving thousands of visitors 152
every year. Thus, during the summer months, human presence and subsequent disturbance to breeding