Boyne estuary (631)
Ireland, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2009
National site name: Boyne estuary
Central coordinates: Latitude: 53.7167, Longitude: -6.2500
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 10
Area of KBA (km2): 4.07629
Protected area coverage (%): 97.35
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: A rather narrow estuary, which widens at its mouth and comprises intertidal mudflat and saltmarsh habitats. It is situated on the east coast, at the border between Counties Louth and Meath and is the port for the town of Drogheda. The estuary has been modified by the construction of training walls on either side, to facilitate deep water access to the port.
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: An important site for wintering waterfowl; additional species that winter in numbers of national importance include Pluvialis apricaria (6,000 birds, 1995), Pluvialis squatarola (255 birds, 1996), Vanellus vanellus (7,500 birds, 1996), Calidris alba (163 birds, 1996), Limosa limosa (287 birds, 1996) and Arenaria interpres (444 birds, 1995).
Habitats
Land use: fisheries/aquaculture (80%) | hunting (100%) | urban/industrial/transport (20%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Intertidal | 50 | |
| Marine Neritic | 50 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: This estuary is threatened with urban and particularly industrial expansion, including dredging and land-claim of wetlands.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases | Unspecified species | Only in the past and unlikely to return |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Recreational activities | Ongoing | |
| Transportation & service corridors | Shipping lanes | Only in the past and unlikely to return |