Lough Corrib (580)
Ireland, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1d
Year of last assessment: 2009
National site name: Lough Corrib
Central coordinates: Latitude: 53.4000, Longitude: -9.2833
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 25
Area of KBA (km2): 178.38642
Protected area coverage (%): 98.96
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Lough Corrib is situated north of Galway city, and is the second-largest lake in Ireland. It consists of two parts: a smaller, shallower basin to the south and a large, deeper basin to the north, connected by a relatively narrow channel. It supports one of the largest areas of wetland vegetation in the country, with extensive submerged beds of stonewort Chara, as well as reed-swamp, marsh, fen and wet grassland. The lakeshore includes woodland, raised bog, callow, and limestone pavement. Apart from raised bog these habitats are also present on the many lake islands. The lake is used for trout fishing.
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 wintering waterfowl. Several additional species occur in numbers of national importance, including Anser albifrons flavirostris (140 birds, 1996), Anas penelope (1,000 birds, 1995), Anas strepera (35 birds, 1996), Anas clypeata (84 birds, 1996), Aythya fuligula (2,676 birds, 1996), Bucephala clangula (145 birds, 1996), Vanellus vanellus (4,050 birds, 1995) and Pluvialis apricaria (7,000 birds, 1995). Lough Corrib is one of only three regular breeding sites known for Melanitta nigra in Ireland, and numbers are of national importance (30 pairs, 1995).
Habitats
Land use: agriculture (20%) | fisheries/aquaculture (80%) | hunting (100%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Grassland | 10 | |
| Forest | 5 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 85 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The uncontrolled discharge of sewage, particularly into the southern part of the lake, is causing nutrient pollution. Other threats to habitat quality are wildfowling (causing disturbance to birds) and increasing pressure from fishing and from lakeshore developments such as hotels, holiday homes and marinas.