UK274
Carlingford Lough


IBA Justification

The site was identified as internationally important for bird conservation in 2007 because it was regularly supporting significant populations of the species listed below, meeting ('triggering') IBA criteria.

Populations meeting IBA criteria ('trigger species') at the site:
Species Red List Season (year/s of estimate) Size IBA criteria
Brent Goose Branta bernicla LC winter (2002–2006) 495 birds B1i, C3
Greater Scaup Aythya marila LC winter (2002–2006) 255 birds B2
Common Redshank Tringa totanus LC winter (2002–2006) 1,278 birds B2
Common Tern Sterna hirundo LC breeding (2000–2006) 398–509 pairs C6
Sandwich Tern Thalasseus sandvicensis LC breeding (2000–2006) 650–826 pairs B1i, B2, C2, C6

IBA Conservation

Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 2007. The most recent assessment (2007) is shown below.

IBA conservation assessment
Year of assessment State Pressure Response
2007 poor medium low
Whole site assessed? State assessed by Accuracy of information
yes population good

State (condition of the trigger species' populations)
Species Actual vs Reference (units) % remaining Result
Brent Goose Branta bernicla 467 / 320 (birds) 100 good
Greater Scaup Aythya marila 310 / 555 (birds) 56 poor
Common Tern Sterna hirundo 398 / 509 (pairs) 79 moderate
Sandwich Tern Thalasseus sandvicensis 825 / 270 (pairs) 100 good

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat Timing Scope Severity Result
Agricultural expansion and intensification happe­ning now some of popul­ation/area (10–49%) slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations) medium
Natural system modifications happe­ning now some of popul­ation/area (10–49%) slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations) medium
Residential and commercial development likely in short term (<4 years) some of popul­ation/area (10–49%) slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations) medium
Pollution likely in short term (<4 years) some of popul­ation/area (10–49%) slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations) medium
Transportation and service corridors likely in short term (<4 years) few indivi­duals/small area (<10%) slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations) low
Energy production and mining likely in short term (<4 years) few indivi­duals/small area (<10%) slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations) low

Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Designation Planning Action Result
Most of area (50–90%) covered (including the most critical parts for important bird species) A management plan exists, but it is out of date or not compre­hensive Some limited conservation initiatives are in place low

IBA Protection

Year Protected Area Designation (management category) % coverage of IBA
1968 Carlingford Lough Islands Nature Reserve (Ia) 1
1986 MOURNE AONB Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (NI) (V) 73
1986 Mourne Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (V) -
1996 CARLINGFORD LOUGH Area of Special Scientific Interest (NI) (IV) 82
1997 ROSTREVOR WOOD Area of Special Scientific Interest (NI) (IV) <1
2011 Carlingford Lough Marine Protected Area (OSPAR) (UA) 34

Habitats

Habitat % of IBA Habitat detail
Marine Coastal/Supratidal -
Marine Intertidal -
Marine Neritic -

Land use

Land use % of IBA
fisheries/aquaculture -
nature conservation and research -
tourism/recreation -
urban/industrial/transport -
water management -


Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Carlingford Lough (United Kingdom). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/carlingford-lough-iba-united-kingdom on 23/12/2024.