Strangford Lough - an area of outstanding beauty

From pristine beaches of golden sand caressed by lapping waves to soaring sea cliffs thrusting from the pounding surf. Windswept sand dunes and tidal mudflats echo with the cries of curlew and oyster catcher, fishing villages and yachting harbours stir to the clank of chains and the creak of canvas. These are all part of the rich tapestry that is Northern Ireland’s maritime heritage.

One such gem is Strangford Lough, an area of outstanding beauty and wildlife importance. This 15 mile long sea Lough, scattered with small islands, lies cradled at the heart of County Down and is home to a rich variety of marine and maritime wildlife. Tides and swirling currents bringing nutrient rich water into the Lough create the foundation for this abundance of life. With over two thousand species of marine life from a myriad of brightly coloured plant and flowers to the occasional shadowy glimpse of an elusive basking shark, Strangford Lough is a popular venue with divers, but it is not just below the water that such teeming life exists. Throughout the year the Lough is a magnet for birdlife particularly waders and other waterfowl. While many are year round residents, others visit in vast flocks to feed or nest. The islands and less accessible parts of the Lough are also nurseries for common and grey seal pups, the mothers finding a quiet spot to hide their young while they go about their business of finding food. A ramble around the shoreline at the mouth of the Lough usually rewards the observer with sightings of adult seals hauled out on rocks, and if very lucky a brief glimpse of a wary otter.

One of the charms of Strangford Lough and its wildlife is its accessibility. People live in towns and villages all around the Lough, and it is within easy reach of Belfast. People use the Lough for recreation, for fishing and food production, and as a means of waste disposal, yet it is this accessibility that poses the greatest threat to the fragile environment that makes the Lough what it is.

Throughout history, man has relied on the oceans to provide us with a plentiful supply of food and other resources. The sheer size of the oceans has created the belief that the supply of these resources is endless, and its use as a dumping ground for waste, limitless. Only now are we discovering that this is not the case and that our seas and coastlines are in fact part of a fragile ecosystem. By polluting the sea with our waste and damaging marine habitats with our activities, man is causing serious harm to the delicate balance of plants, animals and the environment. To redress the balance we need to make a commitment to understanding more about the needs of the environment and take responsibility for our actions

Exploris Aquarium has displays highlighting what can be seen in Strangford Lough and the Irish Sea. Together with other centres around the Lough, visitors can get a closer view of the life in and around the United Kingdoms largest seawater Lough.

Further Information:-

Exploris
Strangford Lough Wildlife centre
Wildfowl and wetlands trust at Castle Espie
Strangford Wildlife centre at Castle Ward
Environment & Heritage service
Quoile Countryside Centre
Ulster Wildlife Trust
Portaferry TIC - email: tourism.portaferry@ards-council.gov.uk