Current view: Text account
Site description (2000 baseline):
Site location and context
Cummeen Strand is the middle of Sligo Bay's three discrete estuarine areas. It lies at the mouth of the River Garavogue and stretches west from Sligo town. Intertidal mud- and sandflats are the dominant habitat, with sand-dunes at Killaspug and Coney Island, and a shingle spit at Standalone Point. The estuary has been modified with the construction of a training wall. There is intertidal shellfish cultivation.
An important wintering and passage site for wildfowl and waders.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
The proximity of Sligo town may negatively affect the site. The feasibility of completing Capital Dredging Works is currently being considered, including the disposal of dredge spoil on mudflat. Habitat quality may be reduced by intertidal shellfish cultivation and increasing recreational use.
National None
International Partial1,491 ha of IBA covered by Ramsar Site (Cummeen Strand, 1,491 ha). 1,491 ha of IBA covered by Special Protection Area (Cummeen Strand, 1,491 ha).
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Cummeen Strand (Sligo Harbour) (Ireland). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/cummeen-strand-(sligo-harbour)-iba-ireland on 23/11/2024.
