Les Écréhous & Les Dirouilles, Jersey

Country:
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (Crown dependencies)
Site number:
1455
Area:
5,459.0 ha
Designation date:
02-02-2005
Coordinates:
49°17'31"N 01°57'56"W

Map

Photos

  • General view of Les Écrehous & Les Dirouilles Ramsar Site, Jersey
  • View of La Marmotière, one of four rocky heads within Les Écrehous & Les Dirouilles Ramsar Site that are large enough to support buildings
  • Aerial view of La Marmotière, one of four rocky heads within Les Écrehous & Les Dirouilles Ramsar Site that are large enough to support buildings

Overview

The Site complex consists of two reefs, which form an extensive shoal area on the east of the Channel Island of Jersey. The area supports a wide range of subtidal, tidal and coastal habitats covering some 60 different types of biotope. 454 marine species, over 90 bird species, and at least 70 species of terrestrial plants, lichens, algae and invertebrates have been recorded. Some species are regionally scarce such as the five-shilling shell (Mactra glauca), or globally vulnerable such as the green ormer (Haliotis tuberculata) and the pink sea fan (Eunicella verrucosa). There is a small population of breeding grey seal (Halichoerus grypus) and one of the largest breeding populations of bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncates) in the British Isles. Common dolphin (Delphinus delphis) and harbour porpoise (Phocoena Phocoena) also frequently use the Site. Notable nesting bird species include common tern (Sterna hirundo), Sandwich tern (Sterna sandvicensis), Eurasian oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus), European shag (Phalacrocorax aristotelis), great cormorant (Phalocrocorax carbo) and ringed plover (Charadrius hiaticula). The Site supports an important commercial fishery for various mixed shellfish and wet fish, is a popular tourist and recreational location, and is used for recreational fishing, kayaking and wildlife watching. It also helps to store and regulate sediments, nutrients and carbon, and plays an important role in offering environmental resilience to the wider region.

Administrative region

Bailiwick of Jersey, Channel Islands

National legal designation

  • Areas of Special Protection - Areas of Special Protection: breeding and surrounding areas on La Blanche Île, La Grande Brecque, La Marmotière and La Blanche Île

Regional (international) legal designations

  • Other international designation

Last publication date:

10-04-2024

Download

Ramsar Information Sheet (RIS)