The Site is a small rocky island situated on the underwater plateau to the north of the Øksnes peninsula. Its higher ground is covered by a thin layer of peat and seabird guano, which support vegetation growth. The Site is one of the few nesting areas for ocean-going seabirds in Norway; its location between the continental shelf to the west and the shallow fjords to the east means that the surrounding ocean provides diverse and reliable feeding conditions for breeding colonies of vulnerable Atlantic puffin (Fratercula arctica), and of black-legged kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla). The birds do not depend on the larvae brought northwards by the coastal currents, but feed on local populations of sand eels in the adjacent fjords, as well as mesopelagic fish on the shelf edge. Within the nature reserve, collecting eggs from some gull species such as Larus argentatus, Larus marinus and Larus canus is permitted. During the nesting season the island is closed to tourism. Potential threats to the Site’s ecological character are oil spills, overfishing and invasive species such as mink.