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Using the Lough

Marine Nature Reserves

The Strangford Lough Marine Nature Reserve (MNR) includes all the waters, seabed and shores up to mean tide high water mark and an area around the mouth of the Lough and was designated in 1995

The Marine Nature Reserve was established underArticle 20 of The Nature Conservation and Amenity Lands (Nl) Order 1985 (NCALO).

It imposes an obligation on the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland to manage a designated Marine Nature Reserve for the purpose of:

conserving marine flora, fauna or features of geological, physiographical or other scientific or special interest in the area; or
providing, under suitable conditions and control, special opportunities for the study of, and research into, matters relating to marine flora and fauna and the physical conditions in which they live, or for the study of features of geological, physiographical or other scientific or special interest in the area.

Picture courtesy of Michael Collins.

Maps & Trails