For Special Protection Areas (SPA),
Proposed Sites for Community Importance (pSCI),
Sites of Community Importance (SCI) and
for Special Areas of Conservation (SAC)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• 1. SITE IDENTIFICATION
• 2. SITE LOCATION
• 3. ECOLOGICAL INFORMATION
• 4. SITE DESCRIPTION
• 5. SITE PROTECTION STATUS
• 6. SITE MANAGEMENT
• 7. MAP OF THE SITE

1. SITE IDENTIFICATION

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1.1 Type

B

1.2 Site code

IE0000495

1.3 Site name

Duvillaun Islands SAC

1.4 First Compilation date

1995-12

1.5 Update date

2019-09

1.6 Respondent:

Name/Organisation:	National Parks and Wildlife Service, Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht
Address:
Email:	datadelivery@chg.gov.ie

1.7 Site indication and designation / classification dates

Date site proposed as SCI:	1998-05
Date site confirmed as SCI:	No information provided
Date site designated as SAC:	2019-06
National legal reference of SAC designation:	297/2019

2. SITE LOCATION

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2.1 Site-centre location [decimal degrees]:

Longitude:	-10.155905
Latitude:	54.078920

2.2 Area [ha]

539.3594

2.3 Marine area [%]

No information provided

2.4 Sitelength [km] (optional):

No information provided

2.5 Administrative region code and name

NUTS level 2 code	Region Name
IE01	Border, Midland and Western

2.6 Biogeographical Region(s)

Atlantic

(0.00 %)

3. ECOLOGICAL INFORMATION

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3.1 Habitat types present on the site and assessment for them

Annex I Habitat types						Site assessment
Code	PF	NP	Cover [ha]	Cave [number]	Data quality	A|B|C|D	A|B|C
						Representativity	Relative Surface	Conservation	Global
1170			26.5	0.00	M	D	-	-	-
1230			5.3	0.00	M	D	-	-	-

• PF: for the habitat types that can have a non-priority as well as a priority form (6210, 7130, 9430) enter "X" in the column PF to indicate the priority form.
• NP: in case that a habitat type no longer exists in the site enter: x (optional)
• Cover: decimal values can be entered
• Caves: for habitat types 8310, 8330 (caves) enter the number of caves if estimated surface is not available.
• Data quality: G = 'Good' (e.g. based on surveys); M = 'Moderate' (e.g. based on partial data with some extrapolation); P = 'Poor' (e.g. rough estimation)

3.2 Species referred to in Article 4 of Directive 2009/147/EC and listed in Annex II of Directive 92/43/EEC and site evaluation for them

Species					Population in the site						Site assessment
G	Code	Scientific Name	S	NP	T	Size		Unit	Cat.	D.qual.	A|B|C|D	A|B|C
						Min	Max				Pop.	Con.	Iso.	Glo.
B	A045	Branta leucopsis			w	1	500	i		M	B	A	C	B
B	A202	Cepphus grylle			r	80	80	i		G	B	A	C	B
B	A009	Fulmarus glacialis			r	500	500	p	P	M	C	A	C	B
M	1364	Halichoerus grypus			p	648	833	i		G	A	A	C	B
B	A014	Hydrobates pelagicus			r	100	100	p	P	M	C	B	C	C
B	A184	Larus argentatus			r	300	300	p		G	C	A	C	C
B	A182	Larus canus			r	20	50	p		G	C	A	C	B
B	A187	Larus marinus			r	217	217	p		G	B	A	C	B
B	A018	Phalacrocorax aristotelis			r	30	50	p		G	C	A	C	C
B	A017	Phalacrocorax carbo			r	185	185	p		G	B	A	C	B
B	A195	Sterna albifrons			r	2	2	p		G	C	C	C	C
B	A194	Sterna paradisaea			r	20	20	p		G	C	B	C	C
M	1349	Tursiops truncatus			p	2	20	i	P	M	C	B	C	C

• Group: A = Amphibians, B = Birds, F = Fish, I = Invertebrates, M = Mammals, P = Plants, R = Reptiles
• S: in case that the data on species are sensitive and therefore have to be blocked for any public access enter: yes
• NP: in case that a species is no longer present in the site enter: x (optional)
• Type: p = permanent, r = reproducing, c = concentration, w = wintering (for plant and non-migratory species use permanent)
• Unit: i = individuals, p = pairs or other units according to the Standard list of population units and codes in accordance with Article 12 and 17 reporting (see reference portal)
• Abundance categories (Cat.): C = common, R = rare, V = very rare, P = present - to fill if data are deficient (DD) or in addition to population size information
• Data quality: G = 'Good' (e.g. based on surveys); M = 'Moderate' (e.g. based on partial data with some extrapolation); P = 'Poor' (e.g. rough estimation); VP = 'Very poor' (use this category only, if not even a rough estimation of the population size can be made, in this case the fields for population size can remain empty, but the field "Abundance categories" has to be filled in)

3.3 Other important species of flora and fauna (optional)

No information provided

4. SITE DESCRIPTION

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4.1 General site character

Habitat class	% Cover
N01	66.00
N05	11.00
N09	23.00
Total Habitat Cover	100

Other Site Characteristics

Site comprises a group of uninhabited islands, rocks and reefs, situated at the southern tip of the Mullet Peninsula. Duvillaun More and Duvillaun Beg are the main islands but Turduvillaun, Gaghta Island, Keely Island and Leamareha Island are included, as well as the surrounding marine areas. Much of Duvillaun More is above the 30m contour and there are cliffs at the north-west, west and south-west sides. About two-thirds of this island is covered by a grassy sward. Duvillaun Beg also has a grassy sward, and an extensive intertidal shoreline. The other islets are mostly rocky knolls.

4.2 Quality and importance

The Duvillauns form part of a larger group of islands, together with the Inishkeas and Inish Keeragh, which hold c. 33% of the national population of Halichoerus grypus. They support a nationally important wintering population of Branta leucopsis and nationally important breeding populations of five seabird species, notably Larus marinus and Phalacrocorax carbo. Small colonies of Hydrobates pelagicus and Sterna paradisaea also occur.The site also provides habitat for the Annex II cetacean species Tursiops truncatus. Boat use or marine tourism activity by the human population may cause disturbance to natural behaviours and impact negatively on the species within the site.

4.3 Threats, pressures and activities with impacts on the site

The most important impacts and activities with high effect on the site

4.4 Ownership (optional)

No information provided

4.5 Documentation (optional)

Berrow, S.D., Whooley, P. & Ferriss, S. (2002). Irish Whale and Dolphin Group cetacean sighting review (1991-2001). Irish Whale and Dolphin Group. 34pp.Berrow, S.D., Whooley, P., O’Connell, M. & Wall, D. (2010). Irish cetacean review (2000-2009). Irish Whale and Dolphin Group. 60pp.B.I.M. (1997). The physical interactions between grey seals and fishing gear. Report to the European Commission DG XIV. An Bord Iascaigh Mhara (The Irish Sea Fisheries Board), Dún Laoghaire, Co. Dublin. Ireland. 74pp.B.I.M. (2001). Grey seal interactions with fisheries in Irish coastal waters. Report to the European Commission DG XIV. Study 95/40. An Bord Iascaigh Mhara (The Irish Sea Fisheries Board), Dún Laoghaire, Co. Dublin. Ireland. 74pp.Cabot, D. (1967). The birds of Duvillaun More Island, Co. Mayo. Irish Naturalists' Journal 15: 357-359.Cronin, M., Duck, C., Ó Cadhla, O., Nairn, R., Strong, D. and O'Keeffe, C. (2004). Harbour seal population assessment in the Republic of Ireland: August 2003. Irish Wildlife Manuals No. 11. National Parks & Wildlife Service, Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government., 7 Ely Place, Dublin 2, Ireland. 34 pp.Cronin, M and Ó Cadhla, O. (2004). Aerial surveying of grey seal breeding colonies on the Blasket Islands, Co. Kerry, the Inishkea Group, Co. Mayo and the Donegal coast during the 2003 breeding season. Report to the National Parks & Wildlife Service, Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government, 7 Ely Place, Dublin 2, Ireland. Coastal & Marine Resources Centre, University College, Cork. 10pp.Cronin, M.A., Duck, C.D. and Ó Cadhla, O. (2007). Aerial surveying of grey seal breeding colonies on the Blasket Islands, Co. Kerry, the Inishkea Group, Co. Mayo and the Donegal coast, Ireland. J. Nat. Conserv. 15 (2): 73-83.I.W.D.G. (1990-2011). Various published and online Irish Whale and Dolphin Group sources. These included all Survey Reports delivered via the PReCast & ShOPS ship survey programmes, in addition to information gathered in the ISCOPE (2003-2005) and ISCOPE II (2006-2009) projects.Kiely, O.R.M. (1998). Population biology of grey seals (Halichoerus grypus Fabricius 1791) in western Ireland. PhD. thesis for the National University of Ireland, University College Cork. Ireland.Kiely, O. and Myers, A.A. (1998). Grey Seal (Halichoerus grypus) pup production at the Inishkea Island group, Co. Mayo, and Blasket Islands, Co. Kerry. Biology and Environment: Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy 98B: 113-122.Leonard, N.C. (1966). Bird Population of the Duvillaun Islands. Cyclostyled report, Dublin.Lloyd, C.S. (1982). An Inventory of Seabird Breeding Colonies in The Republic Of Ireland. Unpublished report to the Forest and Wildlife Service, Dublin Report.Lyons, D.O. (2004). Summary of National Parks & Wildlife Service surveys for common (harbour) seals (Phoca vitulina) and grey seals (Halichoerus grypus), 1978 to 2003. Irish Wildlife Manuals No. 13. National Parks & Wildlife Service, Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government, 7 Ely Place, Dublin 2, Ireland. 67pp.Grimmett, R.F.A. and Jones, T.A. (1989). Important Bird Areas in Europe. ICBP Publication No. 9, Cambridge.Merne, O.J. and Walsh, A. (1994). Barnacle Geese in Ireland, spring 1993 and 1994. Irish Birds 5: 151-156.Ó Cadhla, O. and Strong, D. (2003). Grey seal population status at islands in the Inishkea Group, as determined from breeding ground surveys in 2002. Report to the National Parks & Wildlife Service, Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government, 7 Ely Place, Dublin 2, Ireland. Coastal & Marine Resources Centre, University College, Cork. 7pp.Ó Cadhla, O., Strong, D., O'Keeffe, C., Coleman, M., Cronin, M., Duck, C., Murray, T., Dower, P., Nairn, R., Murphy, P., Smiddy, P., Saich, C., Lyons, D. and Hiby, A.R. (2007). An assessment of the breeding population of grey seals in the Republic of Ireland, 2005. Irish Wildlife Manuals No. 34. National Parks & Wildlife Service, Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Dublin, Ireland. 60pp.Ó Cadhla, O. and Strong, D. (2007). Grey seal moult population survey in the Republic of Ireland, 2007. Report to the National Parks & Wildlife Service, Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Dublin, Ireland. 22pp.Oudejans, M. (2008). Bottlenose dolphins in northwest Ireland. A study to determine population size, habitat use and site fidelity in the coastal waters of County Mayo. Report to The Heritage Council, Kilkenny. 29pp.Oudejans, M., Ingram, S., Englund, A., Visser, F. & Rogan, E. (2010). Bottlenose dolphins in Connemara and Mayo 2008-2009. Movement patterns between two coastal areas in the west of Ireland. Report to the National Parks and Wildlife Service, Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Dublin. 29pp.Oudejans, M., Ingram, S., Englund, A., Visser, F. & Rogan, E. (2011). The bottlenose dolphin in NW Ireland: distribution, abundance and movement patterns. Conference paper presented to the 8th Annual Marine Biological Association Postgraduate Conference, Queen’s University, Belfast. 24pp. Summers, C.F. (1983). The Grey Seal Halichoerus grypus in Ireland. Unpublished report to the Minister for Fisheries, Forestry and Wildlife, Dublin.Warner, P. (1984). Grey Seal Census at the Inishkea Group and the Blaskets, 1984. Unpublished report to the Forest and Wildlife Service, Dublin.

5. SITE PROTECTION STATUS

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6. SITE MANAGEMENT

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6.1 Body(ies) responsible for the site management:

No information provided

6.2 Management Plan(s):

An actual management plan does exist:

	Yes
	No, but in preparation
X	No

6.3 Conservation measures (optional)

No information provided

 

7. MAP OF THE SITE

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INSPIRE ID:	IE.NPWS.PS.NATURA2000.SAC.IE0000495
Map delivered as PDF in electronic format (optional)
Yes X No

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SITE DISPLAY