Belfast Lough (2423)
United Kingdom, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2007
National site name: Belfast Lough
Central coordinates: Latitude: 54.6678, Longitude: -5.8352
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 10
Area of KBA (km2): 60.56182
Protected area coverage (%): 99.43
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: A sea lough with an area of tidal mudflats reduced in size by development. The outer shores are mainly rocky with a few sandy bays. The IBA is important for wintering waders and wildfowl, with man-made lagoons in the Inner Harbour holding the main wader roost.
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 in 1989; 2007 boundary has both Belfast Lough SPA, Belfast Lough Open Water pSPA and additional areas. SPA boundary 1:10,000 scale from JNCC; small additional area and Open Water pSPA digitised at 1:50,000.
Habitats
Land use: nature conservation and research | tourism/recreation | urban/industrial/transport | water management
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Neritic | 90 | |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 5 | |
| Marine Intertidal | 5 |
Threats
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Marine & freshwater aquaculture | Industrial aquaculture | Ongoing |
| Residential & commercial development | Commercial & industrial areas | Only in the future | |
| Natural system modifications | Other ecosystem modifications | Ongoing | |
| Transportation & service corridors | Roads & railroads | Only in the future |