Clare Island cliffs (574)
Ireland, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2009
National site name: Clare Island cliffs
Central coordinates: Latitude: 53.8000, Longitude: -10.0667
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 462
Area of KBA (km2): 11.41608
Protected area coverage (%): 71.40
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Clare Island is situated at the entrance of Clew Bay, 5 km from the mainland in County Mayo. The sea cliffs extend for 8 km along the north-western side of the island; the site boundary runs parallel to, and 100 m inland from, the cliff-edge.
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.
Additional biodiversity: The cliffs hold notable seabird colonies, including one of the largest colonies of Fulmarus glacialis (1,898 pairs, 1990) in Ireland, and nationally important numbers of Larus argentatus (min. 550 pairs, 1987) and Rissa tridactyla (1,712 pairs, 1990). This is also a notable breeding site for Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture (25%) | not utilised (75%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Neritic | 10 | |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 90 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: This site is being considered by NPW for designation as a Special Protection Area, and it overlaps with a proposed candidate Special Area for Conservation (Clare Island Cliffs; area not known). The cliffs are listed as an area of international scientific importance, on account of their rare Arctic-alpine plant communities and seabird colonies.