Murlough ASSI
Topics:
Protected area type:
Areas of Special Scientific Interest
Feature type:
- Habitat,
- Species,
- Earth Science,
- Marine
County:
Down
Council:
Newry, Mourne and Down
Guidance and literature:
Murlough ASSI
The area is of special scientific interest because of the coastal flora, fauna and physiography.
It is a coastal complex exhibiting a range of gravel ridges, re-curved spit, dune systems, palaeosols and contemporary beach processes dating from between late glacial and modern times. This gives rise to an extensive range of coastal habitats, including scarce vegetation communities and rare plant species.
It is Internationally important for wintering wildfowl and waders, a haul-out site for common and grey seals and accommodates a wide range of invertebrates including rare species and communities.