Coastal MPA
Bahía Laura
Provincial Nature Reserve

Cover Photo © G Harris

Description

The Bahía Laura Intangible Natural Reserve was created in 1997 under provincial jurisdiction. It includes the coastal sector from Cabo Guardián to Punta Mercedes. The reserve has an important diversity of coastal and marine avifauna, but it stands out for the important colonies of the black-necked cormorant or rock cormorant, the imperial cormorant, the kelp gull, the Magellanic penguin and skuas. In addition, from the beaches of the bay, it is possible to observe the Commerson’s dolphin.

Geographic Location

Province

Santa Cruz

Coordinates:

-48.38° Latitude S

-66.38° Longitude W

Size and Limits

Total Area:

0

Marine Area:

0

Continental Area:

0

NOTES ON SURFACE ESTIMATION
Surface 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 surface area calculations.

APN reports 16.57 km2 (View More)

Legal Aspects

Jurisdiction

Provincial

Year of Creation

1977

Creation Legislation

Provincial Decree 001561/77

Eco-regions represented

Marine

Land

Patagonian Steppe Ecoregion

Conservation Objectives

Conservation of marine bird colonies.

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

32 % – METT Evaluation (2014)

Sources of information consulted:
Biodiversity Information System (see here).
Provincial Decree N° 1561 (1977)
Padin (2007)
Fasioli and Díaz (2010)

Bird and marine mammal colonies: See Bibliography