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close| Location | Netherlands, Groningen |
| Central coordinates | 6o 30.00' East 53o 32.00' North |
| IBA criteria | A4i, A4iii, B1i, C3, C4, C6 |
| Area | 782 ha |
| Altitude | 0 - 6m |
| Year of IBA assessment | 2000 |
Ornithological information An important high-tide roost for waterbirds that feed in the Wadden Sea.
Site description A small, uninhabited barrier island in the Wadden Sea between Schiermonnikoog and Rottumeroog, with beaches, shifting and fixed sand-dunes, saltmarshes, cord-grass Spartina swards, and mudflats (the entire site is enclosed by site 001). The accretion of the island was promoted by the building of a sand dyke, which was reinforced in the 1970s. There are a small number of guided excursions, otherwise the island is closed to the public. Hunting is restricted to rabbits. The site (all of the mudflats south of the island) has been entirely closed to cockle Cardium and mussel Mytilus fishing since 1993. Coastal defence measures have been reduced since 1988. This site, together with site 012, formed part of a single, larger site (former site NL009) in the previous pan-European IBA inventory (Grimmett and Jones 1989).
Populations of IBA trigger species
| Species | Season | Period | Population estimate | Quality of estimate | IBA Criteria | IUCN Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eurasian Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus | non-breeding | 1992 | 16,640 individuals | medium | A4i, B1i, C3 | Least Concern |
| Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola | non-breeding | 1991 | 2,686 individuals | good | A4i, B1i, C3 | Least Concern |
| Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata | non-breeding | 1992 | 6,351 individuals | medium | A4i, B1i, C3 | Near Threatened |
| Red Knot Calidris canutus | passage | 1991 | 12,556 individuals | good | A4i, B1i, C3 | Least Concern |
| Dunlin Calidris alpina | non-breeding | 1991 | 37,977 individuals | good | A4i, B1i, C3 | Least Concern |
| Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea | breeding | 1991 | 103 breeding pairs | good | C6 | Least Concern |
| A4iii Species group - waterbirds | non-breeding | 1992 | - | unknown | A4iii, C4 |
Protected areas
| Protected area | Designation | Area (ha) | Relationship with IBA | Overlap with IBA (ha) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Noordzeekustzone - NL2003062 | Habitats Directive | 24,838 | protected area is adjacent to site | 0 | |
| Noordzeekustzone - NL9802001 | Birds Directive | 123,646 | protected area is adjacent to site | 0 | |
| Waddenzee (Wadden Sea) | Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar) | 249,998 | protected area contains site | 782 | |
| Waddenzee - NL1000001 | Habitats Directive | 259,214 | protected area contains site | 782 | |
| Waddenzee - NL9801001 | Birds Directive | 272,027 | protected area contains site | 782 | |
| Waddenzee I | Natural Monument | 125,000 | protected area contains site | 782 |
Habitats
| IUCN habitat | Habitat detail | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|---|
| Coastline | Mud flats & sand flats; Salt marshes; Sand dunes & beaches | 100% |
Land use
| Land-use | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|
| hunting | 5% |
| nature conservation and research | 100% |
| tourism/recreation | 100% |
Management considerations Gas extraction in the Wadden Sea (resulting in subsidence) is a threat.
Protection status National High International High782 ha of IBA covered by Natural Monument (Waddenzee I, 125,000 ha). 782 ha of IBA covered by Special Protection Area (Waddenzee, `250,000 ha' [official, incorrect figure]). 782 ha of IBA covered by Ramsar Site (Waddenzee, `250,000 ha' [official, incorrect figure]).
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Recommended citation BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Rottumerplaat. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 26/05/2013
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