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The site was identified as important 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 List1	Season	Year(s)	Size	IBA criteria
Brent Goose Branta bernicla	LC	winter	2001-2006	2,925 individuals	C7
Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola	VU	winter	2001-2006	41 individuals	C7
Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa	NT	winter	2001-2006	264 individuals	C7
Dunlin Calidris alpina	NT	winter	2001-2006	5,672 individuals	C7

1. The current IUCN Red List category. The category at the time of the IBA criteria assessment (2007) may differ.

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.

State (condition of the trigger species' populations)
Species	Reference	Actual	Units	% remaining	Result
Brent Goose Branta bernicla	2,820	2,925	individuals	100	favourable
Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola	52	41	individuals	79	near favourable
Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa	21	264	individuals	100	favourable
Dunlin Calidris alpina	4,650	5,672	individuals	100	favourable

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat	Timing	Scope	Severity	Result
Biological resource use	happening now	some of area/population (10-49%)	moderate to rapid deterioration	high
Residential and commercial development	likely in short term (within 4 years)	some of area/population (10-49%)	moderate to rapid deterioration	medium
Climate change and severe weather	happening now	some of area/population (10-49%)	slow but significant deterioration	medium
Natural system modifications	likely in short term (within 4 years)	small area/few individuals (<10%)	slow but significant deterioration	low
Pollution	happening now	small area/few individuals (<10%)	slow but significant deterioration	low

Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Protected areas	Management plan	Other 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90%) covered by appropriate conservation designation	A management plan exists but it is out of date or not comprehensive	Some limited conservation initiatives are in place	medium

Year	Protected Area	Designation	% overlap with IBA
1992	Portsmouth Harbour	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	100
1995	Portsmouth Harbour	Ramsar Site, Wetland of International Importance	100
1998	Portsmouth Harbour	Special Protection Area (Birds Directive)	100
2011	Portsmouth Harbour	Marine Protected Area (OSPAR)	87

Habitat1	Habitat detail	% of IBA
Marine Intertidal		major (>10)
Marine Neritic		major (>10)
Wetlands (inland)	Rivers and streams	minor (<10)

1. IUCN Habitat classification.

Land use	% of IBA
tourism/recreation	-

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Portsmouth Harbour (United Kingdom). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/portsmouth-harbour-iba-united-kingdom on 23/11/2024.