Description of the Interest Features and their Current Condition

The site is a Special Protection Area (SPA) classified in July 1985. On 29 January 2017 the site was amended to include a seabird assemblage.

The site is notified for the following features:

  • Arctic tern (Sterna paradisaea), Breeding
  • Common tern (Sterna hirundo), Breeding
  • Roseate tern (Sterna dougallii ), Breeding
  • Sandwich tern (Sterna sandvicensis), Breeding
  • Seabird assemblage, Breeding

Further details of these interest features can be found in the Conservation Advice for the site

Coquet Island SPA is classified for the protection of roseate tern (Sterna dougallii), common tern (Sterna hirundo), Sandwich tern (Sterna sandvicensis), Arctic tern (Sterna paradisaea) and a breeding seabird assemblage of over 20,000 individuals. The main components of the seabird assemblage includes these four tern species together with Atlantic puffin (Fratercula arctica) and the black-headed gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus). Additional assemblage components include: northern fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis), herring gull (Larus argentatus), lesser black-backed gull (Larus fuscus) and the black-legged kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla).

The site supports the largest breeding population of roseate terns in Britain.

The condition of the MPA has yet to be assessed by Natural England.

Map of Interest Features

No mapping showing the location of breeding birds or their foraging areas is available. Maps showing the marine habitats around Coquet Island can be viewed at the MAGIC website

Sensitivities of Interest Features

NB: Please note that the summary provided below for is for  information only. The formal conservation advice package and accompanying Supplementary Guidance on the Conservation Objectives produced by Natural England for the site should be referred as the definitive and official source of information about site pressures and sensitivities when making decisions about management activities or preparing Habitats Regulations Assessments.

This site is likely to be sensitive to any activities which may:

  • Negatively affects breeding populations of important bird species
  • Negatively affects the availability and/or quality of breeding habitat for important bird species
  • Increases disturbance to important bird species while nesting, roosting, foraging, feeding, moulting or loafing
  • Negatively affects the safe passage for important bird species between nesting and feeding sites
  • Negatively affects the landform required by breeding roseate tern
  • Negatively affects food availability for the bird species for which the site is designated
  • Negatively affects water quality (including turbidity, nutrient status, contaminants and dissolved oxygen)

Overlap with other sites

This site partially overlaps with the following MPAs:

The following SSSIs overlap partially with this MPA