Mourne Coast ASSI

The Mourne Coast area is of special scientific interest because of its coastal flora, fauna and geology. Important habitats include Sabellaria alveolata reef, intertidal rock, coastal vegetated shingle and maritime cliff and slope. The area is also important for breeding seabirds and higher plants.

The geological importance of the Mourne Coast relates to a series of Palaeogene age intrusions that outcrop along this coast.

Biogenic reefs of the Honeycomb Worm Sabellaria alveolata which are present in sandy areas between lower midlittoral and lower littoral boulders, with some reefs extending into the upper sublittoral zone.

The vegetation at Mourne Coast illustrates a natural transition from maritime to terrestrial communities.

The northern section of the site regularly supports a colony of breeding Black-legged Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla. A survey of the colony in 2011 showed that there were 523 apparently occupied nests (the standard means of assessing population size) so the population is likely to exceed 1000 birds.