Bahía de Cádiz. 24/10/02; Andalucía; 10,000 ha; 36° 30'N 006° 11'W. Natural Park (Parque Natural, 2 Parajes Naturales), Special Protection Area and proposed Site of Community Importance EC Directives. An outstanding example of Atlantic tidal marshes on the Iberian Peninsula. Much of the saltmarshes have been transformed into salt pans. Nowadays, most of them are no longer in use and have reverted to more natural habitats or been transformed into pans for aquaculture. Natural habitats also include sandy beaches and rocky islets. The Bay of Cadiz is a crucial refueling site for migrating and wintering waterbirds, hosting more than 1% (Ramsar Criterion 5) of 14 different East Atlantic populations. It also harbours more than 1% of the breeding populations of 5 different shorebirds. The Bay is crucial for spawning, nursery and foraging of 9 commercially important fish species and harbours up to 60 different fish. The Bay was settled in ancient times, as revealed by archeological remains - it is now surrounded by urban centres (400,000 inhabitants) and the Cadiz port facilities. This creates urban, tourism and leisure pressures on the protected area. Ramsar site no. 1265. Most recent RIS information: 2003.