SPA description
(information as published 2001)
Loch Shiel
Loch Shiel is situated in Lochaber, between Moidart and Sunart
in the western Highlands. It is a large, deep, sheltered,
oligotrophic glacial freshwater loch with a maximum depth of 128 m.
Emergent vegetation is virtually absent, but there are submerged
macrophyte communities typical of oligotrophic waters, as well as a
fairly varied littoral benthic fauna. The site is of importance as
a traditional breeding locality for Black-throated Diver Gavia
arctica.
Qualifying species
For individual species accounts visit the Species
Accounts section
This site qualifies under Article 4.1 of the
Directive (79/409/EEC) by supporting populations of European
importance of the following species listed on Annex I of the
Directive:
During the breeding season;
Black-throated Diver Gavia arctica, 4 pairs
representing up to 2.5% of the breeding population in Great
Britain
Note:
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