Dawhat Kazima

Dawhat Kazima
Area (Hectares): 
1 660.00ha
Altitude: 
0 - 5m
Conservation Status: 
IBA - KW002
Access: 
Public and Private (Reserve)
General Site Description: 

A shallow, relatively well-sheltered bay, part of the larger Kuwait Bay system, with extensive intertidal mudflats (c.890 ha). The site is important for economically valuable shrimp nurseries, and supports both recreational and traditional fishing with fixed traps (hadra). A close season operates for shrimp catching.

Ornithological interest: 

The site is important for coastal waterfowl during winter and on passage, including Ardea cinerea (62, January) and Recurvirostra avosetta (70, January). Mixed-species flocks of several thousand waterfowl occur during migration seasons but accurate counts of species and individuals have not been made. At least 66 species have been recorded.

Other Biodiversity: 

Invertebrates: the crab Cleistostoma kuwaitense (Endemic)

Conservation issues: 

This IBA was last assessed in 1993, so there is a need to formally conduct vigorous surveys to re-assess and update the status. There are no serious threats at present: some local oil pollution occurs from power stations on Doha peninsula, and toxic outflow from Jahra Pool destroyed extensive stands of Salicorniain early 1980s. The site has been inaccessible since the 1990–1991 Iraqi occupation because of unexploded ordnance, which gives some de facto protection from human disturbance