Montrose Basin (2544)
United Kingdom, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2007
National site name: Montrose Basin
Central coordinates: Latitude: 56.7117, Longitude: -2.5125
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 76
Area of KBA (km2): 9.85301
Protected area coverage (%): 99.87
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The Montrose basin is about 3 km across, almost circular in shape, and forms the estuary of the South Esk River. Duns Dish, a lowland loch about 4 km north-west of Montrose basin, is also included within the IBA. The site supports large numbers of wintering wildfowl and waders, and for breeding and summer moulting assemblages of Somateria mollissima.
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; no significant boundary changes since then. SPA boundary used from JNCC; digitised at 1:10,000 scale.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture | hunting | nature conservation and research
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Intertidal | 90 | |
| Marine Neritic | 5 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 5 |
Threats
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural system modifications | Dams & water management/use | Small dams | Ongoing |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Marine & freshwater aquaculture | Industrial aquaculture | Ongoing |
| Energy production & mining | Renewable energy | Only in the future |