Marine MPA
Namuncurá - Banco Burdwood II
Marine Protected Area

Cover Photo © Nicolás Battini

Description

The Namuncurá – Burdwood Bank II Marine Protected Area is located south and southwest of the Namuncurá – Burdwood Bank MPA, encompassing the slope that continues to the submarine plateau and a large sector of deep water beyond the slope. Its creation made it possible to incorporate into the protection of the plateau, the slope area identified as the area of greatest biodiversity of vulnerable benthic species of cold water corals and coral forests. The area is influenced by several ocean currents and its topography produces vertical movements of water masses constituting upwelling areas with nutrient upwelling generated by the circulation of currents surrounding the bank. The slope in the southern zone includes deep seabeds (4,000 m) and submarine canyons that contain high biodiversity with vulnerable, endemic and three-dimensional habitat-forming benthic species. It constitutes a representative sample of the Southern Slope region.

Geographic Location

Province

ZEE

Coordinates

-55.21° Latitude S

-59.87° 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.

AMP file in the SIB (Read More)

Legal Aspects

Jurisdiction

National

Year of Creation

2018

Creation Legislation

Law 27490

Photo © G Harris WCS
Photo © Beagle Secretos del Mar

Eco-regions represented

Marine

Magellanic Province
Malvinas Ecoregion
South Chile Canals and Fiords Ecoregion
Subantarctic Province (Antarctic and Southern Oceans)

Land

Conservation Objectives

  • Area of high seasonal productivity influenced by the southern continental shelf that supports complex trophic networks (macro and mega invertebrates, fish, and marine birds and mammals).
  • Presence of submarine canyons on the continental shelf surrounding Burdwood Bank plateau of great importance for benthic biodiversity, and areas of upwelling.
  • Area with the presence of animal forests, represented by Hexacorallia, such as soft corals (Octocorallia) and hydrocorals, considered “eco-systemic engineers”, since they generate structures that increase the diversity of communities over time and are identified as vulnerable marine ecosystems.
  • Area of high benthic biodiversity and endemisms for species of invertebrates with high fragility and slow recovery from threats. Presence of corals and cold-water sponges that form three-dimentional structures.
  • Important area for the reproduction of commercially important bony fish, such as Southern Blue whiting, Black Hake and Macrouridae; and of scientific interest like the group of the Notothenioid fish.
  • Feeding area and of intensive use of globally threatened marine birds (IUCN – International Union for Conservation of Nature): Black-browed Albatross (near threatened), Wandering Albatross (vulnerable), Gray Headed Albatross (endangered), Magellanic Penguin (near threatened), White Chinned Petrel (vulnerable) Rockhopper Penguin (endangered) and at a national level (Resolution MAyDS N° 795/17), Southern Giant Petrel (vulnerable), Northern Giant Petrel (vulnerable), and King Penguin(vulnerable).
  • Feeding area of the Antarctic sea lion, vulnerable on a national level (Resolution MAyDS N ° 1030/04).
  • Area of species of oceanic marine mammals and of tourist interest due to sightseeing of Hourglass dolphins, Long-finned pilot whales, Sperm whales and Fin whales.
    (Bases of the Law)

Conservation values

  • Area of high seasonal productivity influenced by the front of the Southern Slope that supports complex food webs in the area (macro and mega invertebrates, fish, birds and marine mammals).
  • Presence of submarine canyons on the slope surrounding the Burdwood Bank plateau of great importance for benthic biodiversity and upwelling areas.
  • Area with presence of animal forests, represented by true corals (Hexacorallia), such as soft corals (Octocorallia) and false corals, considered as “eco-systemic engineers”, since they generate structures that increase the diversity of communities over time and identified as Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems.
  • Area of high benthic biodiversity and endemism for invertebrate species that are highly fragile and slow to recover from threats. Presence of cold water corals and sponges that form three-dimensional structures.
  • Important area for the reproduction of bony fish of commercial importance, such as the Polaca, Patagonian toothfish and grenadier; and of scientific interest as the group of Notothenidae.
  • Feeding and intensive use area for globally threatened seabirds (International Union for Conservation of Nature -IUCN-): Black-browed Albatross (near threatened), Wandering Albatross (vulnerable), Gray-headed Albatross (endangered), Magellanic Penguin (near threatened), White-bearded Petrel (vulnerable) and Yellow-plumed Penguin (Endangered) and on a national scale (Resolution MAyDS N° 795/17), Southern Giant Petrel (vulnerable), Northern Giant Petrel (vulnerable) and King Penguin (vulnerable).
  • Antarctic fur seal feeding area, vulnerable on a national scale (Resolution SAyDS N° 1030/04).
  • Distribution area of oceanic marine mammal species of tourist interest such as the Crossed Dolphin, Pilot Dolphin, Sperm Whale and Fin Whale.

Management

Implementing Authority

National Directorate of Marine Protected Areas. National Parks Administration Institute

Management effectiveness and evaluation year

Not evaluated.

Sources consulted: Technical Justification Document for the creation of the MPA (2017).