Illaunmaistir (Oilean Maistir) (567)
Ireland, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: D1a
Year of last assessment: 2009
National site name: Illaunmaistir (Oilean Maistir)
Central coordinates: Latitude: 54.3167, Longitude: -9.6333
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 100
Area of KBA (km2): 1.67842
Protected area coverage (%): 98.03
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: A small, steep-sided, inaccessible rocky island (rising to 100 m) and surrounding waters, located just off the cliff-dominated north coast of County Mayo, 19 km west of Ballycastle.
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.
Additional biodiversity: This is an important site for breeding seabirds; additional species include Fulmarus glacialis (10 pairs), Puffinus puffinus (10-100 pairs), Phalacrocorax aristotelis (>10 pairs) and Cepphus grylle (5 pairs).
Habitats
Land use: fisheries/aquaculture (95%) | nature conservation and research (5%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 5 | |
| Marine Neritic | 95 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The island (5 ha) is a reserve owned by BirdWatch Ireland. Fishing in surrounding waters may deplete the prey stock of seabirds, with implications for their breeding success.