Sounds around Wyre (2686)
United Kingdom, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2007
National site name: Sounds around Wyre
Central coordinates: Latitude: 59.1088, Longitude: -3.0073
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 18
Area of KBA (km2): 48.91329
Protected area coverage (%): 31.38
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: A large sea area comprising the sounds of Eynhallow, Gairsay, Rousay and Wyre. Human activities include marl extraction. The IBA is important for wintering divers.
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 2000; no significant boundary changes since then. Digitised onto 1:50,000 scale OS maps.
Habitats
Land use: fisheries/aquaculture
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Intertidal | 25 | |
| Marine Neritic | 50 | |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 25 |
Threats
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Marine & freshwater aquaculture | Industrial aquaculture | Ongoing |