Inaccessible Island

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Inaccessible Island

  • Country: 
    United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (Overseas territories)
  • Site number: 
    1869
  • Area: 
    126,524 ha
  • Designation date: 
    20-11-2008
  • Coordinates: 
    37°18'S 12°40'W
Materials presented on this website, particularly maps and territorial information, are as-is and as-available based on available data and do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the Ramsar Convention concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.

Overview

Inaccessible Island.20/11/08; St Helena, Tristan da Cunha; 126,524 ha; 37°18'S 012°41'W. World Heritage Site, Nature Reserve, Important Bird Area, Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels. The site includes Inaccessible Island and surrounding territorial waters. Inaccessible Island is a near-pristine cool temperate island of volcanic origin. A total of 24 species of seabirds and land birds as well as the Subantarctic Fur Seal breed there, some in very large numbers. Non-forested peatlands and rocky marine shores are critical to the survival of the breeding populations of Tristan Albatross (relict population of 2-3 pairs) and Spectacled Petrel (island endemic), and Northern Rockhopper Penguin and Sooty Albatross, respectively, all of which are globally threatened. Other important wetland types include permanent freshwater pools, permanent streams and marine subtital aquatic beds. There is no permanent human population - from time to time small numbers of researchers and conservation management teams visit the island. Commercial fishery for Tristan Rock Lobster and limited recreational fishing under license take place in Inaccessible's territorial waters. Ramsar site no. 1869. Most recent RIS information: 2008.

Administrative region: 
St Helena

  • Global international designation: 
    • World Heritage site
  • National legal designation: 
    • nature reserve
  • Last publication date: 
    20-11-2008

Downloads

Ramsar Information Sheet (RIS)