Loch Shiel (20803)
United Kingdom, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2007
National site name: Loch Shiel
Central coordinates: Latitude: 56.7912, Longitude: -5.5857
System: terrestrial
Area of KBA (km2): 22.89684
Protected area coverage (%): 99.90
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Loch Shiel is situated in Lochaber, between Moidart and Sunart in the western Highlands. It is a large, deep, sheltered, oligotrophic glacial freshwater loch with a maximum depth of 128 m. Emergent vegetation is virtually absent, but there are submerged macrophyte communities typical of oligotrophic waters, as well as a fairly varied littoral benthic fauna. The site is of importance as a traditional breeding locality for Gavia arctica.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that was identified using previously established criteria and thresholds for the identification of Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs) and for which available data indicate that it does not meet global KBA criteria and thresholds set out in the Global Standard.
Delineation rationale: First identified as part of Rois-Bheinn in 2000; split out along with Moidart - Ardgour in 2007 (original Rois-Bheinn then dropped from inventory). SPA boundary used from JNCC; digitised at 1:10,000 scale.
Habitats
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Wetlands(Inland) | 100 |
Threats
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases | Named species | Ongoing |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Recreational activities | Ongoing |