The Mistras Lagoon is a coastal lagoon system between the Sinis Peninsula and the Gulf of Oristano, separated from the sea by a system of sand bars and dune ridges. It is one of the best preserved wetlands in central-western Sardinia and, together with the Cabras Lagoon, forms the core of the Sinis wetland complex.
Site data
- Natura 2000 code: ITB030034
- Designation: Special Area of Conservation (SAC)
- Biogeographical region: Mediterranean
- Reference directive: Habitats 92/43/EEC
- Territorial managing body: Municipality of Cabras / Municipality of Oristano
Habitats of Community interest
The site includes a complete sequence of environments from the lagoon to the dune ridge, with habitats recognised by the Habitats Directive, some of which are priority (marked with an asterisk):
- 1150* Coastal lagoons (priority habitat)
- 1210 Annual vegetation of drift lines
- 1310 Salicornia and other annuals colonising mud and sand
- 1410 Mediterranean salt meadows (Juncetalia maritimi)
- 1420 Mediterranean halophilous scrubs (Sarcocornetea fruticosi)
- 1510* Mediterranean salt steppes (Limonietalia) — priority habitat
- 2110 Embryonic shifting dunes
- 2210 Crucianellion maritimae fixed beach dunes
Key species
The lagoon is a stopover, wintering and breeding area for many waterbird species, as well as a nursery ground for fish:
- Greater flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus)
- Black-winged stilt (Himantopus himantopus)
- Pied avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta)
- Kentish plover (Charadrius alexandrinus)
- Little egret (Egretta garzetta)
- Euryhaline fish: mullets (Mugilidae spp.), European eel (Anguilla anguilla), gilt-head bream (Sparus aurata)
For official up-to-date data and the full Natura 2000 Standard Data Form, see the Natura 2000 Network Viewer (opens in a new window).