Dundalk Bay, Ireland
Located on Ireland’s east coast, Dundalk Bay is a Natura 2000 site, recognised for its importance to an impressive range of marine and coastal species. It is protected under the European Birds Directive due to its role as a habitat for wintering waterbirds and migratory species. The bay's mudflats, sandflats, and estuarine ecosystems support large populations of birds, making it a significant conservation area.
Dundalk Bay is visible in this Copernicus Sentinel-2 image acquired on 6 September 2024.
In response to increasing threats to ecosystems both within the EU and globally, the European Commission is dedicated to safeguarding natural habitats and mitigating environmental degradation. A key element of this effort is Copernicus, which provides free and open data for monitoring the health of global ecosystems, allowing researchers to better understand the trends and impacts of climate change. Furthermore, by providing near real-time data on oceanographic and coastal conditions, Copernicus supports decisionmakers in designating and creating protected areas dedicated to biodiversity.
