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FR012
Baies de Morlaix et de Carantec
Location France, Bretagne
Central coordinates 3o 54.00' West  48o 40.00' North
IBA criteria A4i, A4iii, B1i, B2, B3, C2, C3, C4, C6
Area 7,900 ha
Altitude 0 - 15m
Year of IBA assessment 2000

Ligue Pour La Protection des Oiseaux



Ornithological information The site supports important tern colonies and is also important for wintering waterbirds. The site holds 20,000 or more waterbirds in winter, on a regular basis (including Branta bernicla 2,170; Haematopus ostralegus 1,590; Larus ridibundus 38,500 individuals).

Site description An estuary and bay with mudflats, sand and shingle-beaches, rocky areas, islets and cliffs. Human activities include fishing, hunting, tourism and sailing.

Populations of IBA trigger species

Species Season Period Population estimate Quality of estimate IBA Criteria IUCN Category
European Storm-petrel Hydrobates pelagicus breeding  1991  10-20 breeding pairs  -  C6  Least Concern 
Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres winter  1997  575-1,480 individuals  -  A4i, B1i, C3  Least Concern 
Dunlin Calidris alpina winter  1997  10,000-12,800 individuals  -  B2  Least Concern 
Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus breeding  1991  440 breeding pairs  -  B3  Least Concern 
Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus breeding  1991  350 breeding pairs  -  B3  Least Concern 
Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvicensis breeding  1997  750-1,100 breeding pairs  -  A4i, B1i, B2, C2, C6  Least Concern 
Roseate Tern Sterna dougallii breeding  1996  105-110 breeding pairs  -  A4i, B1i, B2, C2  Least Concern 
Common Tern Sterna hirundo breeding  1991  190-210 breeding pairs  -  C6  Least Concern 
Red-billed Chough Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax breeding  1991  12-13 breeding pairs  -  C6  Least Concern 
A4iii Species group - waterbirds winter  1997  -  unknown  A4iii, C4   

Protected areas

Protected area Designation Area (ha) Relationship with IBA Overlap with IBA (ha)  
Baie de Carantec Hunting Reserve 200 protected area contained by site 200  
Baie de Morlaix Hunting Reserve 1,800 protected area contained by site 1,800  
BAIE DE MORLAIX - FR5300015 Habitats Directive 26,648 protected area overlaps with site 6,562  
Baie de Morlaix - FR5310073 Birds Directive 27,389 protected area overlaps with site 7,267  
FR012 Private Reserve 5 protected area contained by site 5  

Habitats

IUCN habitat Habitat detail Extent (% of site)
Wetlands (inland) Tidal rivers and enclosed tidal waters  -
Sea Sea inlets and coastal features  -
Coastline Mud flats & sand flats; Rock stacks and islets; Sand dunes & beaches; Sea cliffs and rocky shores; Shingle & stony beaches  -

Land use

Land-use Extent (% of site)
fisheries/aquaculture -
hunting -
tourism/recreation -

Management considerations Recreation activities and tourism are the main threats affecting breeding birds.

Protection status National Partial International Partial5 ha of IBA covered by Private Reserve (5 ha). 2,000 ha of IBA covered by 2 Hunting Reserves (Baie de Morlaix; Baie de Carantec; total area 2,000 ha). 1,800 ha of IBA covered by Special Protection Area (Baie de Morlaix, 1,800 ha).

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Recommended citation  BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Baies de Morlaix et de Carantec. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 19/06/2013

To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife