Coastal-Marine MPA
Costa Atlántica Tierra del Fuego
Provincial Nature Reserve

Cover Photo © Pablo Petracci

Description

The Atlantic Coast Reserve of Tierra del Fuego is located in the northeast of the island of Tierra del Fuego and covers the coastal sector between Cape Nombre north of San Sebastian Bay and the mouth of the Ewan River. The extensive amplitude of the tidal plains and the presence of shoals are its most outstanding features. San Sebastián Bay is a wide bay, partially enclosed by the El Páramo peninsula, which has low coasts with saline, muddy and sandy soils and extensive intertidal zones, and the Punta Sinaí area is characterized by the existence of a field of erratic blocks of glacial origin. The reserve’s greatest wealth lies in its avifauna, which includes an abundance of migratory shorebirds that use the extensive intertidal zone for feeding and resting. San Sebastián Bay is home to approximately 43% of the world’s population of sea coots and important concentrations of red sandpipers and white-rumped sandpipers. Numerous populations of southern oystercatchers are found off the coast of the city of Río Grande. The reserve has a high cultural value, linked to the Selk’nam culture, and historical value, linked to the European colonization of the region. The city of Río Grande is the only urban center in the reserve. In addition, the waters adjacent to the reserve are important feeding, transit and migration areas for numerous species of seabirds and marine mammals.

Geographic Location

Province

Tierra del Fuego

Coordinates:

-53.37° Latitude S

-68.10° Longitude W

Size and Limits

Total Area:

0

Marine Area:

0

Continental Area:

0

NOTES ON SURFACE ESTIMATION
Area estimated based on the calculation of the area of the polygon represented on the map (ArcGIS PRO) with an Albers Equivalent Conic projection to preserve area calculations.

APN reports 286.00 km2 (View More)

Legal Aspects

Jurisdiction

Provincial

Year of Creation

1992 / 1998

Creation Legislation

Provincial Decree 2202/92 (1992) – Provincial Law N 415 (1998)

International recognition

Wetland of International Importance, Ramsar (1995).
Site of International Importance according to the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network (WHSRN), 1992.
AICA site (IBA) according to Birdlife International.

Foto © Pablo Petracci
Foto © Pablo Petracci

Eco-regions represented

Marine

Magellanic Province
Patagonian Platform Ecoregion

Land

Patagonian Steppe Ecoregion

Conservation Objectives

Main objective: conservation of migratory shorebirds and their habitats.

The extense range of tidal plains and the presence of shoals are its most outstanding features. Bahía San Sebastián is a wide bay, partially closed by El Páramo peninsula, which has low coasts with saline, mud, and sandy soil and extensive intertidal areas.

The Punta Sinaí area is distinguished by the existence of a field of erratic blocks of glacial origin. The greatest wealth of the reserve is its avifauna, among which the abundance of migratory shorebirds that use the wide intertidal zone to feed and rest.

Bahía San Sebastián is home to approximately 43% of the world population of the Hudsonian Godwit (Limosa haemastica) and important concentrations of Red Knots (Calidris canutus) and White-rumped sandpiper (Calidris fuscicollis). On the coasts of the city of Río Grande there are large populations of Magellanic Oystercatchers (Haematopus leucopodus). This reserve has an important cultural and historical value related to the Selk’nam culture, linked to the European colonization of the region.

The city of Río Grande is the only urban center in the reserve. (Padin 2007).

Conservation Values

1. San Sebastian Bay and El Páramo Herringbone are notable formations in the Reserve.
2. Presence of erratic blocks (e.g., erratic block field at Punta Sinai).
3. In the Río Chico region, the southernmost Middle Pleistocene beaches in South America were recognized, with elevations of 29, 25 and 14 m.a.s.l. These units are differentiated by their fossil associations and sedimentology and correspond to different interglacial episodes from the Middle to Upper Pleistocene.
4. It constitutes the most important wintering area for the sea becasa (Limosa haemastica), concentrating approximately 43% of the world population of this species.
5. It constitutes the most important wintering area for the Red Knot (Calidris canutus), concentrating approximately 13 % of the world population of this species.
6. It constitutes one of the most important areas for the white-rumped sandpiper (Calidris fuscicollis), concentrating approximately 32 % of the population of the Atlantic coast.
7. It is home to the guanaco (Lama guanicoe), a native terrestrial fauna species protected by provincial legislation:
8. The area adjacent to the reserve is home to the red-headed goose (Chloephaga rubidiceps), a species considered “threatened with extinction.
9. The intertidal landscape is unique because of the tidal amplitude.
10. Halophilic zone of San Sebastian Bay
11. It is important as an area of transit, migration and feeding of various species of seabirds and marine mammals.
12. It presents a historical value linked to the development and occupation of the Selk ́nam culture and also of older societies.
13. Building complex of the Salesian Mission: La Candelaria Historic Chapel, the Sisters’ Workshop and La Casa La Misión. Currently a National Historic Monument.
14. La Misión Cemetery. Currently a National Historic Monument.
15. Circuit of ranches linked to the colonization of the territory and the beginnings of the cattle activity in the northern area of Tierra del Fuego. For example, the first cattle raising establishment in the northern area: Estancia Primera Argentina (currently Estancia José Menéndez), and Ea. María Behety, currently declared an Asset of National Historic Interest.
16. Ex-Frigorífico CAP, founded in 1917. Currently a National Historic Monument.
17. El Páramo National Historic Site.

Colonies and stopover sites

The following table presents the colonies or stopover sites of some emblematic species of birds and marine mammals present within the MPA boundaries.

Management

Year of Management Plan approval

2011

Management effectiveness and evaluation year

59 % – METT Evaluation (2014)

Official Web site:

Sources of information consulted: Management Plan (2011).
Bird and marine mammal colonies: See Bibliography