Larne Lough Ramsar Site

Area: 398 hectares

Grid Reference: J 450987

Date Designated: 04/03/97

Larne Lough is situated on the Co. Antrim coast in the east of Northern Ireland.

The Ramsar site boundary is entirely coincident with both that of the Larne Lough Area of Special Scientific Interest and the Larne Lough Special Protection Area.

The site qualifies under Criterion 3c of the Ramsar Convention by regularly supporting internationally important numbers of Light-bellied Brent Geese Branta bernicla hrota in winter (the five year peak mean for the period 1991/92 to 1995/96 was 227 which comprises 1.1 % of the international population).

The site also qualifies under Criterion 2a by supporting an important assemblage of vulnerable and endangered Irish Red Data Book bird species. The site regularly supports nationally important numbers of breeding populations of the following Annex 1 species: Roseate Tern Sterna dougallii (the five year mean for the period 1992 to 1996 was 6 pairs which comprises 1.7 % of the Irish population) and Common Tern Sterna hirundo (an average of 199 pairs for the period 1992 to 1996 - 6.8 % of the Irish population).

The figure for Roseate Terns is also very close to the number required for international qualification. Swan Island has, in the recent past, held internationally important numbers of breeding Roseate Terns (1% of the international population is 6 pairs).