Fact sheet for HELCOM MPA 399 - Signilskär- Märket Islands

Signilskär and its archipelago encompass approximately 50 islands and islets of varying sizes and various characteristics. The group of islands is internationally recognized for its rich birdlife. Birds are found to nest, migrate and overwinter in the area. A bird species worthy of protection is found in the area throughout the year. Sometimes during autumn when migration of birds of prey migration is most intensive, as many as 600 sparrow hawks have been observed per day in the area. Northern Europe's oldest bird-banding station, which was founded in 1927, is situated on the main island. The area also has significant cultural-historical value. Among the islands there are many valuable bird nesting islands. The vegetation on the islands is also noteworthy. The state border between Finland and Sweden is situated on Märket's lighthouse island. The Märket area consists of scattered low reefs and this region is the core area for the grey seal in the Northern Baltic Sea.

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General information of MPA Signilskär- Märket Islands, Finland

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Species in MPA Signilskär- Märket Islands, Finland (hide / show)

Scientific nameAscending	English name	Species group	Species status	Does the species justify the site's designation as an MPA?	Performed monitoring	Authorities responsible for monitoring	HELCOM Red List category	Link to Species Information Sheet (SIS)	Link to WORMS
Branta leucopsis	Barnacle goose	Birds	not reported	No	not reported	not reported	-	SIS	WORMS
Charadrius hiaticula hiaticula	Ringed plover	Birds	not reported	No	not reported	not reported	NT	SIS	WORMS
Halichoerus grypus	Grey seal	Mammals	resident	Yes	regular monitoring	not reported	LC	SIS	WORMS
Sterna hirundo	Common tern	Birds	not reported	No	not reported	not reported	-	SIS	WORMS
Sterna paradisaea	Arctic tern	Birds	not reported	No	not reported	not reported	-	SIS	WORMS

Biotopes in MPA Signilskär- Märket Islands, Finland

Biotope complexes in MPA Signilskär- Märket Islands, Finland.

Code (HD Annex 1)	Biotope complex name	Does the biotope complex justify the site's designation as an MPA?	Performed monitoring	Authorities responsible monitoring	HELCOM Red List category	Link to Biotope Complex Information Sheet (BIS)
6210	Semi-natural dry grasslands and scrubland facies on calcareous substrates (Festuco-Brometalia) (* important orchid sites)	Yes	not reported	not reported	-	-
6280	Nordic alvar and precambrian calcareous flatrocks	Yes	not reported	not reported	-	-
7140	Transition mires and quaking bogs	Yes	not reported	not reported	-	-
1150	Coastal lagoons	Yes	not reported	not reported	EN	BIS
1170	Reefs	Yes	not reported	not reported	VU	BIS
1620	Boreal Baltic islets and small islands	Yes	not reported	not reported	NT	BIS
3160	Natural dystrophic lakes and ponds	No	not reported	not reported	-	-

Management and regulated activities of MPA Signilskär- Märket Islands, Finland

Pressure (list according to MSFD Annex III revision document, May 2015)	Inside or outside the MPA	Intensity (low, medium, high)	Past, current or potential future pressure
Input of nutrients and organic matter	outside	not reported	-
Input of contaminants (synthetic substances, non-synthetic substances, radionuclides) - diffuse sources, point sources, acute events	inside	low	potential future
Input of contaminants (synthetic substances, non-synthetic substances, radionuclides) - diffuse sources, point sources, acute events	outside	low	potential future
Disturbance of species	inside	low	potential future
Disturbance of species	outside	low	potential future