Key Biodiversity Areas

Isle of Man Sea Cliffs (2703)
United Kingdom, Europe

Site overview


KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: D1a
Year of last assessment: 2007
National site name: Isle of Man Sea Cliffs
Central coordinates: Latitude: 54.0973, Longitude: -4.7722
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 233
Area of KBA (km2): 18.33499
Protected area coverage (%): 42.24
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes

Site details


Site description: Stretches of slate cliffs of varying profile, some are high, steep and vertical, others are rounded and low. Several small bays and Baie ny Carrickey are also included in the site. Habitat-types present include agricultural land, moorland and maritime heath. The IBA is important for breeding seabirds and other cliff-nesters.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that meets the thresholds for at least one criterion described in the Global Standard for the Identification of KBAs.
Delineation rationale: First identified in 1989 as Sea Cliffs from Ramsey to Castleton and from Port St Mary to Peel; renamed in 1992 as Isle of Man Sea Cliffs; extended to include further areas in 2000. Digitised onto 1:50,000 scale OS maps.

Habitats


Land use: agriculture
IUCN HabitatCoverage %Habitat detail
Marine Coastal/Supratidal25
Shrubland25
Grassland25
Artificial - Terrestrial25