Current view: Text account
Site description (2000 baseline):
Site location and context
A small, uninhabited barrier island in the Wadden Sea (entirely enclosed by site 001), between Rottumeroog and the Eems/Dollard estuary. The site includes the Zuiderduintjes, a isolated dune area, 2 km south of the main island. The island, which was located at the present position of Rottumerplaat 350 years ago, is being reduced by erosion. Habitats include sandflats and mudflats, shifting and fixed sand-dunes, saltmarshes, and cord-grass
Spartina swards. The island is closed to the public; hunting taking place to reduce rabbit numbers. The site (all the mudflats south of the island) has been entirely closed to cockle
Cardium and mussel
Mytilus fishing since 1993. This site, together with site 011, formed part of a single, larger site (former site NL009) in the previous international IBA inventory (Grimmett and Jones 1989).
An important high-tide roost for waterbirds that feed in the Wadden Sea.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Gas extraction in the Wadden Sea (resulting in subsidence) is a threat.
National High
International High311 ha of IBA covered by Natural Monument (Waddenzee I, 125,000 ha). 311 ha of IBA covered by Special Protection Area (Waddenzee, `250,000 ha' [official, incorrect figure]). 311 ha of IBA covered by Ramsar Site (Waddenzee, `250,000 ha' [official, incorrect figure]).
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Rottumeroog (Netherlands). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/rottumeroog-iba-netherlands on 25/11/2024.
