GR084
Echinades, Kalamos and Atokos islands 21° 2’ 41.504” E, 38° 23’ 58.224” N Area: 290 km 2 Region: Ionia Nisia, Dytiki Ellada • Prefecture: Kefallinia, Aitoloakarnania
C6 Seaward Extension
Site Description The IBA includes the entire marine area surrounding the 27 islands and islets of the Echinades archipelago (Oxeia, Makropoula, Makri, Vromonas, Petalas, Modi, Apasa, Soros, Gratharis, Skopelos, Xeropoula, Pontikos, Provatio, Tsakalonisi, Karlonisi, Pistros, Exo Petra, Philippos, Drakonera, Lambrinos, Sofia, Kalogiros and Praso). The islets are used as seabird breeding and roosting grounds. This insular area interacts with the rich ecosystem of the estuary of Acheloos River forming a complex of exceptional importance for biodiversity. The wider marine area between Kefalonia island, Lefkada island and continental Greece provides a refuge to many marine top predator species, including cetaceans, particularly dolphins, such as the Short-beaked Common Dolphin and Common Bottle-nosed Dolphin, as well as sharks and the Mediterranean Monk Seal. The sea in the IBA is predominantly shallow with the maximum depth just exceeding 100 m and abundant with Posidonia beds. The IBA contains 1
n.m. marine extensions surrounding all islands and islets of the Echinades archipelago, from Louros beach in Mesolongi in the east to Cape Peteinos in the north. This area adjoins and complements the marine coastal areas already included in IBA GR092 (Mesolongi and Aetoliko lagoons, Acheloos delta and Evinos estuary).
Ornithological Importance The marine site is an important foraging and resting area for the resident population of the
Mediterranean Shag which is estimated at 20-35 pairs and is the largest in the Ionian Sea.
species
related IBA
year
season
min
max
unit
accuracy
Phalacrocorax aristotelis
GR084
2006
R
20
35
P
good
criteria C6
Other Species of Interest Cory’s and Yelkouan Shearwaters use the marine area for foraging. Telemetry of Cory’s Shearwater individuals breeding on Strofades islets (GR087) revealed that they use the Gulf of Patra for foraging, therefore birds foraging in the Echinades archipelago are assumed to belong to the same colony. Yelkouan
Shearwaters are observed in the area during the non-breeding season, associated with post-breeding dispersal from their breeding sites. Yellow-legged Gulls breed on many of the uninhabited islets of Echinades.
Uses, Threats, Management
The main threat relating to colony sites is continuous tourist development which causes disturbance at Mediterranean Shag breeding and roosting sites. 88
The site is adjacent to the large commercial port of Astakos and one of the main shipping routes in the Ionian Sea, connecting the port of Patra