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