Site: Hiiumaa Islets and Käina Bay

Designation date: 17-06-1997

Coordinates: 58°48'N 022°58'E

Elevation: 0 m - 10 m

Area: 17,700 ha

Location: The site is located in Hiiu County, Hiiumaa Island, 20 km southeast of Kärdla town.

Criteria: 1 ,2 ,3 ,5 ,6 ,8

Importance: The Hiiumaa Islets and Käina Bay form an important site for endangered orchid-rich communities, unique and endangered broadleaf forest (Quercus-Tilia-Acer communities), endangered bottom vegetation (Zostera marina, algae Furcellaria fastigiata, and Polysiphonia nigrescens), and the rare (in Estonia) Eleocharis parvula association. In addition to being a regular resting ground of the ringed seal Phoca hispida, the site regularly supports more than 1% of the individuals in the relevant populations of Cygnus columbianus, C. cygnus, Branta leucopsis, Anser anser and Grus grus. In autumn, more than 20,000 staging waterbirds regularly visit the area. The fish species recorded in this important spawning area include Belone belone, Coregonus lavaretus, Vimba vimba, Esox lucius, Leuciscus idus and Alburnus alburnus, in addition to the endangered Siluris glanis and endemic Coregonus lavaretus maraenoides.

Wetland Types: J ,H ,E ,B ,A (dominant types shown in bold)

The area is characterised by a shallow water shelf sea with small islets and bays, the salt marshes of Salinõmme and coastal meadow. Käina Bay is a eutrophic brackish lagoon with mudflats and 23 small low islets. Good examples of natural reedbeds occur here represented by Eleocharis uniglumis communities.

Biological/Ecological notes: Other noteworthy flora includes good examples of Suaeda maritima and Salicornia europeae association. Flora in shallow water and bottom vegetation is represented by Rivularia coadunata, Cladophora glaucescens, Chara aspera, Fucus vesiculosus and Furcellaria fastigiata; the coastal meadows by Glauco-maritima-Juncus gerardii association and Festucetum arundinaceae; shrubs by Juniperus communis, Rhamnus catharctica, Ribes alpina and Rosa sp.; and the forests by Pinus sylvestris, Populus tremula, Betula pendula and Quercus robur. Käina Bay is also characterised by the presence of Chara aspera, C. tomentosa, Potamogeton sp., juniper bushes and small coppices of Alnus glutinosa and Pinus sylvestris. Festuca sp. and Carex sp. occur in the semi-natural coastal meadows. Another noteworthy species is the amphibian Bufo calamita. Breeding birds recorded include Botaurus stellaris, Haliaeetus albicilla, Recurvirostra avosetta, Limosa limosa, Calidris alpina schinzii, Cygnus olor, Anas strepera and Panurus biarmicus. Staging birds recorded are Branta leucopsis, Anser anser, Aythya ferina, A. fuligula, A. marila, Clangula hyemalis, Melanitta nigra, M. fusca, Bucephala clangula, Anas penelope, A. platyrhynchos, Fulica atra and Grus grus.

Hydrological/Physical notes: The Hiiumaa Islets area is situated atop Ordovician limestone, covered by moraine gravel, sand and sea sediments with salty coastal and typical sod-calcareous soils. The area is hydrologically highly prized for prevention of coastal erosion, and for sediment trapping, maintenance of water quality and the support of food chains. The water amplitude ranges between 2-3 m, with water depths between 0-5 m and a salinity of 5-6%. Käina Bay is also of Ordovician limestone, covered by clay marine sediments and has a water salinity of 2-3%. The maximum amplitude of the water level here is 1 m with water depths ranging between 0-1 m. The mean annual temperature is almost 6°C and precipitation is 580 mm.

Human Uses: The site and surrounding area are privately and state-owned, with approximately 100 and 800 inhabitants, respectively. Principal land uses within the site are extensive agriculture, fishing and tourism with forestry and hunting in the surrounding areas. The uninhabited Käina Bay shoreline is subject to extensive cattle grazing. The well known curative sea-mud reserves in Käina Bay make it an important area for limited and regulated ecotourism during summer months, as well as for fishing, environmental education and scientific research. Angling and sailing occur also outside the nature reserves. Current scientific and research activities include the monitoring of fish, plant and bird communities and seals, in addition to plant and bird phenology. There is a field research station at Salinõmme and long-term monitoring of breeding and staging waterbirds is carried out in Käina Bay. Current conservation education involves a visitor centre and bird tower at Salinõmme, two information booklets on the Hiiumaa Islets and Käina Bay, and a nature trail with three bird towers in Käina Bay.

Conservation Measures: The Hiiumaa Islets Landscape Reserve was established in 1971 and includes 16 islets with a total area of 313 ha. The Ornithological Reserve of Käina Bay, established in 1971, has an annual shooting and seasonal visiting ban. The Hiiumaa Islets and Käina Bay are part of the West-Estonian Archipelago Biosphere Reserve, which was founded in 1990. Käina Bay was also identified as an Important Bird Area by BirdLife International in 1989, as were the Hiiumaa Islets in 1996. Protection rules are in preparation. A management plan has to be completed by 2002. It has been proposed that Käina Bay and four islets form the core area of the Biosphere Reserve.

Adverse Factors: The site is under general threat from water pollution from the surrounding area (agricultural and wastewater from Käina and from other settlements), and excessive human disturbance. The main threats in the surroundings/catchment area are agricultural pollution, excessive human disturbance, hunting and fishing.

Site Management: 1. Hiiumaa Islets Landscape Reserve, Salinõmme, EE3211 Suuremõisa, Hiimuaa, Estonia. 2. Hiiumaa County Administration, Department of Nature Conservation, Kõrgessaare mnt. 18, EE3200 Kärdla, Estonia.

External Link:

Based on the 1997 Ramsar Information Sheet.