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Year of most recent IBA criteria assessment: 2009

Populations of IBA trigger species

Species	Current IUCN Red List Category	Season	Year(s) of estimate	Population estimate	IBA Criteria Triggered
Brent Goose Branta bernicla	LC	winter	2002-2006	2,730-5,290 individuals	B1i, B2, C3
Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica	NT	winter	2002-2006	771-2,511 individuals	B1i, C2, C6
Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa	NT	winter	2002-2006	679-1,448 individuals	B1i, C3
Red Knot Calidris canutus	NT	winter	2002-2006	2,506-5,375 individuals	B2
Common Tern Sterna hirundo	LC	breeding	2008-2009	404-477 breeding pairs	C6
A4iii Species group - waterbirds	n/a	winter	2002-2006	27,472-34,996 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

Protected Area	Designation	Area (ha)	Relationship with IBA	Overlap with IBA (ha)
South Dublin Bay SAC	Site of Community Importance (Habitats Directive)	742	protected area contained by site	742
Sandymount Strand/Tolka Estuary SPA	Special Protection Area (Birds Directive)	2,193	protected area overlaps with site	2,194
Sandymount Strand/Tolka Estuary	Ramsar Site, Wetland of International Importance	654	protected area overlaps with site	0
Rockabill to Dalkey Island SAC	Site of Community Importance (Habitats Directive)	27,314	protected area is adjacent to site	0
North Dublin Bay SAC	Site of Community Importance (Habitats Directive)	1,474	protected area contained by site	1,475
North Dublin Bay	Marine Protected Area (OSPAR)	1,400	protected area contained by site	0
North Bull Island SPA	Special Protection Area (Birds Directive)	1,943	protected area contained by site	1,944
North Bull Island	National Nature Reserve - Section 15 of Wildlife Act 1976	1,318	protected area contained by site	0
North Bull Island	Nature Reserve	118	protected area contained by site	1,436
North Bull Island	UNESCO-MAB Biosphere Reserve	1,008	protected area overlaps with site	500
North Bull Island	Ramsar Site, Wetland of International Importance	1,436	protected area overlaps with site	1,436
Howth Head SAC	Site of Community Importance (Habitats Directive)	375	protected area is adjacent to site	0
Dalkey Islands SPA	Special Protection Area (Birds Directive)	83	protected area overlaps with site	0

IUCN Habitat	Habitat detail	Extent (% of site)
Coastline	Tidal rivers & enclosed tidal waters, Sand dunes & beaches, Salt marshes, Mud flats & sand flats	-
Artificial/Terrestrial	Highly improved re-seeded landscapes, Other urban and industrial areas	-
Marine Neritic		-
Marine Intertidal		-

For further information about the habitat classification please click here.

Land-use	Extent (% of site)
nature conservation and research	-
urban/industrial/transport	-
not utilised	-
tourism/recreation	-

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

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2023) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Dublin Bay. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 20/03/2023.