Coastal-Marine MPA
Bahía de San Antonio
Natural Protected Area

Cover Photo © Fabián Pinasco

Description

The San Antonio Bay Natural Protected Area is located northwest of San Matías Gulf and includes sectors of the Port of San Antonio East, the city of San Antonio West and Las Grutas Beach Resort. It includes sandy beaches, shells and sandbars, as well as an extensive marsh that makes up the Bay of San Antonio, which is discovered at low tide, exposing a wide espartillar – crab and large sandy plains, furrowed by drainage channels. It is an area of high primary productivity that hosts a rich diversity of marine and coastal species of regional importance.

Geographic Location

Province

Río Negro

Coordinates:

-40.77° Latitude S

-65.03° 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 a Protected Landscape of 808.56 km2 (Read More).  Management Plan reports a total of 812 km2 and 609 km2 marine.

Legal Aspects

Jurisdiction

Provincial

Year of Creation

1993 / 2008

Creation Legislation

Provincial Law 2670 (1993)
Provincial Law M 2670 (2008)

International recognition

Site of International Importance according to WHSRN (1993) and AICA according to Birdlife International (2004).

Foto © Fabian Pinasco
Foto © Fabian Pinasco

Eco-regions represented

Marina

Argentine Province North Patagonian Gulfs Ecoregion

Land

Monte Ecoregion of plains and plateaus

Conservation Objectives

Conservation of breeding sites for marine birds. Resting and foraging sites of Nearctic and Patagonian migratory birds. Purpose of Creation Law: protection and conservation of environments that both resident and migratory birds depend on for reproduction, resting and foraging.

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

Management effectiveness and evaluation year

44 % – METT Evaluation (2014)

Year of Management Plan approval

2013

Official Web site:

Sources of information consulted: Management Plan (2012).
Seabird colonies: See Bibliography