Data Zone
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 IBA criteria.
Populations meeting IBA criteria ('key species') at the site:| Species | Red List | Season (year/s of estimate) | Size | IBA criteria |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Horned Grebe Podiceps auritus | VU | winter (1999–2000) | 57 individuals | B1i, C2, C6 |
| Arctic Loon Gavia arctica | LC | winter (1999–2000) | 160 individuals | C6 |
| Common Loon Gavia immer | LC | winter (1999–2000) | 109 individuals | A4i, B1i, 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 status | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment | State | Pressure | Response |
| 2007 | favourable | low | very low |
| Whole site assessed? | State assessed by | Accuracy of information | |
| yes | population | good | |
| State (condition of the key species' populations) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Species | Actual vs Reference (units) | % remaining | Result | ||
| Horned Grebe Podiceps auritus | 57 / 50 (individuals) | 100 | favourable | ||
| Arctic Loon Gavia arctica | 160 / 135 (individuals) | 100 | favourable | ||
| Common Loon Gavia immer | 109 / 84 (individuals) | 100 | favourable | ||
| Pressure (threats to the key species and/or their habitats) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Threat | Timing | Scope | Severity | Result |
| No known threats | happening now | few individuals/small area (<10%) | no deterioration (<1% over 3 generations) | low |
| Response (conservation actions taken for the key species and/or their habitats) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Designation | Planning | Action | Result |
| Little/none of site covered (<10%) | No management planning has taken place | Very little or no conservation action taking place | very low |
| Year | Protected Area | Designation (management category) | % coverage of IBA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1919 | The Dodman and St Austell Bay | Nature Reserve (V) | <1 |
| 1931 | Gerrans and Veryan Bays | Nature Reserve (V) | <1 |
| 1935 | South Helford | Nature Reserve (V) | <1 |
| 1938 | North Helford | Nature Reserve (V) | <1 |
| 1946 | Trelissick | Nature Reserve (V) | <1 |
| 1958 | The Roseland | Nature Reserve (V) | <1 |
| 1959 | Cornwall | Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (V) | 70 |
| 1986 | The Roseland | Heritage Coast (V) | 38 |
| 1986 | Gribbin Head-Polperro | Heritage Coast (V) | 5 |
| 1986 | Gerrans Bay To Camels Cove | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV) | <1 |
| 1990 | Rosemullion | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV) | <1 |
| 1994 | Meneage Coastal Section | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV) | <1 |
| 1996 | Upper Fal Estuary and Woods | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV) | <1 |
| 1997 | Lower Fal & Helford Intertidal | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV) | <1 |
| 1998 | Cuckoo Rock To Turbot Point | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV) | <1 |
| 1998 | Par Beach and St Andrews Road | Local Nature Reserve (IV) | <1 |
| 2000 | Carricknath Point To Porthbean Beach | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV) | <1 |
| 2005 | Fal and Helford | Marine Protected Area (OSPAR) (UA) | 27 |
| Habitat | % of IBA | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Neritic | major (>10) | |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | minor (<10) | |
| Marine Intertidal | minor (<10) |
| Land use | % of IBA |
|---|---|
| fisheries/aquaculture | - |
| military | - |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2025) Important Bird Area factsheet: South Cornwall Coast (United Kingdom). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/south-cornwall-coast-iba-united-kingdom on 08/01/2025.