When the suite of wild bird indicators was first developed for England and the UK in the late 1990s, it was felt that insufficient data was available to be able to produce a sufficiently robust indicator for upland habitats. With the continuation and growth of the BTO/JNCC/RSPB UK Breeding Bird Survey, targeted efforts to improve coverage in the uplands (such as the NE-funded Upland Breeding Bird Survey and the BBS’s Upland Rovers initiative), as well as further repeated surveys of scarcer breeding species under the SCARABBS (Statutory Conservation Agency and RSPB Annual Breeding Bird Scheme) programme, it was considered now feasible to develop a robust and sufficiently long-term upland indicator alongside those for other habitats. In doing so we can fill an obvious gap in the reporting on England and the UK’s biodiversity, on the drivers upon it, and the success of efforts to protect our important upland environment.

This study is part three of a series of sector‐level analysis reports on sea‐lough WeBS data in Northern Ireland, previously documenting Carlingford Lough, Strangford Lough, Belfast Lough, and Lough Foyle, which were chosen as sites that host aquaculture activities. These reports aim to improve understanding of the fluctuations in numbers of waterbirds within the sites and inform the consenting of operations and assessment of development plans on these protected areas. This report aims to provide an initial insight into the potential impact of intertidal Oyster aquaculture on trends in Larne Lough, Killough Harbour and Dundrum Inner Bay.

This study aims to produce the first sector-level analysis of Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS) data in Northern Ireland, on two of the sea-lough sites that host aquaculture activities. This will improve understanding of the fluctuations in numbers of waterbirds within the sites and inform the consenting of operations and assessment of development plans on these SPAs.

This study aims to produce the first sector-level analysis of Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS) data in Northern Ireland, on two of the sea-lough sites that host aquaculture activities. This will improve understanding of the fluctuations in numbers of waterbirds within the sites and inform the consenting of operations and assessment of development plans on these SPAs.