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Year of most recent IBA criteria assessment: 2007

Populations of IBA trigger species

Species	Current IUCN Red List Category	Season	Year(s) of estimate	Population estimate	IBA Criteria Triggered
Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus	LC	winter	2001-2006	208 individuals	B1i, C2
Brent Goose Branta bernicla	LC	passage	2001-2006	17,972 individuals	A4i, B1i, C3
Brent Goose Branta bernicla	LC	winter	2001-2006	11,257 individuals	A4i, B1i, C3
Common Shelduck Tadorna tadorna	LC	winter	2001-2006	4,119 individuals	A4i, B1i, C3
Eurasian Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria	LC	passage	1990-1995	3,210 individuals	C6
Eurasian Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria	LC	winter	1990-1995	5,850 individuals	C6
Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata	NT	winter	1990-1995	1,910 individuals	B2
Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica	NT	passage	1990-1995	370 individuals	C6
Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica	NT	winter	1990-1995	770 individuals	B2, C6
Red Knot Calidris canutus	NT	winter	1990-1995	6,500 individuals	B1i, B2, C3
Common Redshank Tringa totanus	LC	passage	1990-1995	3,070 individuals	A4i, B1i, C3
Common Redshank Tringa totanus	LC	winter	1990-1995	2,470 individuals	B1i, C3
Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus	LC	breeding	2002	1 breeding pairs	C6
Common Tern Sterna hirundo	LC	breeding	2000	554 breeding pairs	C6
Common Tern Sterna hirundo	LC	breeding	2006	962 breeding pairs	C6
Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea	LC	breeding	2000	54 breeding pairs	C6
Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea	LC	breeding	2006	663 breeding pairs	C6
Sandwich Tern Thalasseus sandvicensis	LC	breeding	2000	894 breeding pairs	B1i, B2, C2, C6
Sandwich Tern Thalasseus sandvicensis	LC	breeding	2006	1,137 breeding pairs	A4i, B1i, B2, C2, C6
A4iii Species group - waterbirds	n/a	winter	1990-1995	56,793 individuals	A4iii, C4

Note: This table presents the IBA criteria triggered and the species that triggered then at the time of assessment, the current IUCN Red List category may vary from that which was in place at that time.

For more information about the IBA assessment process and criteria please click here

Threats to the site (pressure)
Threat Level 1	Threat Level 2	Timing	Scope	Severity	Result
Agricultural expansion and intensification	marine and freshwater aquaculture - subsistence/artisinal aquaculture	happening now	small area/few individuals (<10%)	moderate to rapid deterioration	low
Residential and commercial development	housing and urban areas	happening now	small area/few individuals (<10%)	moderate to rapid deterioration	low

Condition of key/trigger populations (state)
Scientific	Common	TargetPop	ActualPop	Units	Remaining	Result
Cygnus cygnus	Whooper Swan	23	208	individuals	100	favourable
Branta bernicla	Brent Goose	10700	11257	individuals	100	favourable
Tadorna tadorna	Common Shelduck	2080	4119	individuals	100	favourable
Sterna hirundo	Common Tern	565	962	breeding pairs	100	favourable
Sterna paradisaea	Arctic Tern	280	663	breeding pairs	100	favourable
Thalasseus sandvicensis	Sandwich Tern	530	1137	breeding pairs	100	favourable

Conservation actions taken at site (response)
Conservation Designation	Management Planning	Conservation Action	Result
Whole area of site (>90%) covered by appropriate conservation designation	A management plan exists but it is out of date or not comprehensive	The conservation measures needed for the site are being comprehensively and effectively implemented	high

For more information about IBA monitoring please click here

Protected Area	Designation	Area (ha)	Relationship with IBA	Overlap with IBA (ha)
STRANGFORD LOUGH PART 3	Area of Special Scientific Interest (NI)	2,002	protected area overlaps with site	0
STRANGFORD LOUGH PART 2	Area of Special Scientific Interest (NI)	679	protected area overlaps with site	0
STRANGFORD LOUGH PART 1	Area of Special Scientific Interest (NI)	1,596	protected area overlaps with site	0
Strangford Lough (Part 3)	Area of Special Scientific Interest (ASSI)	0	protected area contained by site	2,002
Strangford Lough (Part 2)	Area of Special Scientific Interest (ASSI)	699	protected area contained by site	699
Strangford Lough (Part 1)	Area of Special Scientific Interest (ASSI)	1,549	protected area contained by site	1,549
Strangford Lough	Marine Protected Area (OSPAR)	0	protected area overlaps with site	0
Strangford Lough	Special Protection Area (Birds Directive)	15,564	protected area overlaps with site	15,504
Strangford Lough	Marine Protected Area (OSPAR)	0	protected area overlaps with site	0
Strangford Lough	Marine Nature Reserve	16,489	protected area contains site	15,504
Strangford Lough	Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty	0	protected area overlaps with site	14,535
Strangford Lough	Nature Reserve	2,763	protected area overlaps with site	0
Strangford Lough	Site of Community Importance (Habitats Directive)	15,392	protected area overlaps with site	0
Strangford Lough	Marine Conservation Zone	16,489	protected area overlaps with site	0
Strangford Loch	Ramsar Site, Wetland of International Importance	15,581	protected area overlaps with site	15,504
Strangford Bay & Sandy Island	Nature Reserve	42	protected area contained by site	0
STRANGFORD & LECALE	Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (NI)	52,502	protected area contains site	0
QUOILE	Area of Special Scientific Interest (NI)	210	protected area overlaps with site	0
NORTH STRANGFORD LOUGH	National Nature Reserve	1,013	protected area overlaps with site	1,038
Mount Stewart	Nature Reserve	41	protected area overlaps with site	0
KILLARD	National Nature Reserve	90	protected area overlaps with site	0
KILLARD	Area of Special Scientific Interest (NI)	116	protected area overlaps with site	0
Dorn	National Nature Reserve	783	protected area contained by site	783
Castle Ward	Nature Reserve	273	protected area is adjacent to site	0
BALLYQUINTIN POINT	National Nature Reserve	17	protected area overlaps with site	0
BALLYQUINTIN POINT	Area of Special Scientific Interest (NI)	54	protected area overlaps with site	0

IUCN Habitat	Habitat detail	Extent (% of site)
Wetlands (inland)	Fens, transition mires and springs	-
Marine Intertidal		-
Marine Neritic		-
Marine Coastal/Supratidal		-

For further information about the habitat classification please click here.

Land-use	Extent (% of site)
agriculture	-
fisheries/aquaculture	-
hunting	-
nature conservation and research	-
tourism/recreation	-
urban/industrial/transport	-

For further information about the land use classification please click here.

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2023) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Strangford Lough and islands. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 29/03/2023.