Fact sheet for HELCOM MPA 400 - Lågskar Islands

The site is located in the outer archipelago zone and encompasses barren islands and islets. Lågskär is the south-westernmost outpost of Finland and Åland where buildings are found. A lighthouse and its former residential area are located on Lågskär. Since 1964 an ornithological station for the surveying and ringing of birds has also been operative on Lågskär. The Lågskär station has become very popular among ornithologists because Lågskär is an important resting site for migrating birds. All the migrating species coming to Finland, as well as wind-driven eastern species and a number of arctic bird species, have been observed at this site. Steller's eider (Polysticta stelleri) overwinters in the area around Lågskär. The colonies observed at Lågskär are the largest colonies found in the Baltic Sea region, having up to 150 individuals.

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General information of MPA Lågskar Islands, Finland

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Species in MPA Lågskar 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
Alca torda	Razorbill	Birds	breeding	No	occasional monitoring program	other structure	-	SIS	WORMS
Anas strepera	Gadwall	Birds	breeding	No	occasional monitoring program	other structure	-	SIS	WORMS
Anser anser	Greylag goose	Birds	breeding	No	occasional monitoring program	other structure	-	SIS	WORMS
Aythya fuligula	Tufted duck	Birds	breeding	No	occasional monitoring program	other structure	NT	SIS	WORMS
Charadrius hiaticula hiaticula	Ringed plover	Birds	breeding	No	occasional monitoring program	other structure	NT	SIS	WORMS
Cygnus olor	Mute swan	Birds	breeding	No	occasional monitoring program	other structure	-	SIS	WORMS
Haematopus ostralegus	Eurasian oystercatcher	Birds	not reported	No	occasional monitoring program	other structure	-	SIS	WORMS
Haliaeetus albicilla	White-tailed sea-eagle	Birds	resident	No	occasional monitoring program	other structure	-	SIS	WORMS
Halichoerus grypus	Grey seal	Mammals	resident	Yes	regular monitoring	public or parabuplic organization independently of the management structure	LC	SIS	WORMS
Melanitta fusca	Velvet scoter	Birds	breeding	No	occasional monitoring program	other structure	VU	SIS	WORMS
Polysticta stelleri	Steller's eider	Birds	wintering	Yes	occasional monitoring program	other structure	EN	SIS	WORMS
Somateria mollissima	Common eider	Birds	breeding	No	occasional monitoring program	other structure	VU	SIS	WORMS
Sterna hirundo	Common tern	Birds	breeding	Yes	occasional monitoring program	other structure	-	SIS	WORMS
Sterna paradisaea	Arctic tern	Birds	breeding	Yes	occasional monitoring program	other structure	-	SIS	WORMS

Biotopes in MPA Lågskar Islands, Finland

Biotope complexes in MPA Lågskar 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)
1150	Coastal lagoons	Yes	not reported	not reported	EN	BIS
1210	Annual vegetation of drift lines	Yes	not reported	not reported	-	-
1220	Perennial vegetation of stony banks	Yes	not reported	not reported	-	-
1620	Boreal Baltic islets and small islands	Yes	no monitoring program	not reported	NT	BIS

Management and regulated activities of MPA Lågskar 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 contaminants (synthetic substances, non-synthetic substances, radionuclides) - diffuse sources, point sources, acute events	inside	medium	potential future
Input of contaminants (synthetic substances, non-synthetic substances, radionuclides) - diffuse sources, point sources, acute events	outside	medium	potential future
Disturbance of species	inside	medium	current
Disturbance of species	outside	medium	current