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Special Protection Area

Special Protection Areas (SPAs) are strictly protected sites classified in accordance with Article 4 of the Birds Directive, They are classified for rare and vulnerable birds, and for regularly occurring migratory species. The directive requires that in Strangford Lough the following species and all species of regularly occurring migratory birds shall be the subject of special conservation measures concerning their habitat:
 
  • Internationally important populations of breeding common tern, of breeding Sandwich Tern,of breeding arctic tern
  • Internationally important populations of wintering Lightbellied Brent Goose, wintering Knot, wintering Redshank
  • The wintering waterfowl population including, Branta bernicla hrota, Calidris canutus, Tringa totanus.