The Isle of Man is an island in the Irish Sea, between Great Britain and Ireland in Northern Europe, with a population of almost 85,000. It is a British Crown dependency. It has a small islet, the Calf of Man, to its south. It is located at .

Dimensions

Area:

Land:

Water: (100 ha) Total:

This makes it: slightly more than three times the size of Washington, D.C. slightly more than one-third the size of Hertfordshire slightly smaller than Saint Lucia.

Coast and territorial sea The Isle of Man has a coastline of , and a territorial sea extending to a maximum of 12 nm from the coast, or the midpoint between it and other countries. The total territorial sea area is about 4000 km2 or 1500 sq miles, which is about 87% of the total area of the jurisdiction of the Isle of Man. The Isle of Man only holds exclusive fishing rights in the first 3 nm. The territorial sea is managed by the Isle of Man Government Department of Infrastructure.

The Raad ny Foillan long-distance footpath runs around the Manx coast.

Climate The Isle of Man enjoys a temperate climate, with cool summers and mild winters. Average rainfall is high compared to the majority of the British Isles, due to its location to the western side of Great Britain and sufficient distance from Ireland for moisture to be accumulated by the prevailing south-westerly winds. Average rainfall is highest at Snaefell, where it is around a year. At lower levels, it can fall to around a year.

Temperatures remain fairly cool, with the recorded maximum being at Ronaldsway.

Terrain

The island's terrain is varied. There are two mountainous areas divided by a central valley which runs between Douglas and Peel. The highest point in the Isle of Man, Snaefell, is in the northern area and reaches above sea level. The northern end of the island is a flat plain, consisting of glacial tills and marine sediments. To the south, the island is more hilly, with distinct valleys. There is no land below sea level.

Land use Arable land: 43.86% Permanent crops: 0% Other: 56.14% (includes permanent pastures, forests, mountain and heathland) (2011)

Natural hazards and environmental issues There are few severe natural hazards, the most common being high winds, rough seas and dense fog. In recent years there has been a marked increase in the frequency of high winds, heavy rains, summer droughts and flooding both from heavy rain and from high seas. Snow fall has decreased significantly over the past century while temperatures are increasing year-round with rainfall decreasing.

Air pollution, marine pollution and waste disposal are issues in the Isle of Man.

Protected or recognised sites for nature conservation In order of importance, international first, non-statutory last. Note that ASSIs and MNRs have equal levels of statutory protection under the Wildlife Act 1990.

UNESCO Biosphere Reserves The entire territory of the Isle of Man, including all land, sea, freshwater, airspace and seabed is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve

Ramsar sites

Designated: Ballaugh Curraghs UK21001 (2006, 193.4 ha). Has the same boundaries as the Ballaugh Curraghs ASSI.

Candidate: The Ayres UK21002 (Proposed in 2004 & 2005, 600 ha) Southern Coasts & Calf of Man UK21003 (Proposed in 2004 & 2005, 2326 ha) Central Valley Curragh UK21004 (Proposed in 2004 & 2005, 164 ha) Gob ny Rona, Maughold Head & Port Cornaa UK21005 (Proposed in 2004 & 2005, 209 ha) Dalby Peatlands UK21006 (Proposed in 2004 & 2005, 58 ha)

Important Marine Mammal Areas

In 2024, the IUCN Marine Mammal Protected Areas Task Force recognised that 17,610km2 of the central Irish Sea as being of global importance for marine mammals, known as the Central Irish Sea Important Marine Mammal Area. This includes about half of Manx marine territorial waters.

Important Shark and Ray Areas

Manx territorial waters support are globally important for sharks, skates and rays, with three (one in whole, two in part) globally significant Important Shark and Ray Areas which recognised by the IUCN Shark Specialist Group as follows:

Calf of Man-Orrisdale ISRA - 205.5km2 for aggregations of Basking Shark Cetorhinus maximus Northwest Irish Sea ISRA - 2,476.2km2 for Spurdog Squalus acanthias Northeast Atlantic Corridor ISRA - 1,482,885 km2 for Porbeagle Lamna nasus and as migratory routes for Basking Shark Cetorhinus maximus

Important Bird Areas

The UK RSPB and UK JNCC have designated five areas of the Isle of Man which are of global significance to birdlife.RSPB/JNCC (1992) Important Bird Areas in the United Kingdom including the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man, 540pp

Isle of Man Sea Cliffs – 97 km of the east and west coasts Calf of Man – 250 ha The Ayres – c. 800ha Ballaugh Curraghs – 374 ha Isle of Man Hills – 8650 ha

National Nature Reserves The Ayres (2000, 272 ha) Cronk y Bing (2026, 7.16 ha)

Areas of Special Scientific Importance There are 25 ASSIs on the Isle of Man as of November 2022. One additional ASSI has been designated but later rescinded (Ramsey Estuary). Dates below refer to year of formal confirmation.

Ballachurry Meadows (2010, 11.9 ha) Ballacrye Meadow (2005, 0.55 ha) Ballateare Meadow (2014, 0.96 ha) Ballaugh Curraghs (2005, 193.4 ha) Central Ayres (1996, 259.66 ha, extended 2008 by 98.68 ha, total 358.35 ha) Cronk y Bing (2006, 17.71 ha, also declared to be a National Nature Reserve on 14th July 2026) Cronk y King (2014, extended in 2021 to 3.02 ha) Curragh Pharrick (2022, 4.02 ha) Dalby Coast (2010, 62.1 ha) Dhoon Glen (2007, 20.92 ha) Douglas Head (2022) Eary Vane (2007, 3.96 ha) Glen Maye (2008, 15.92 ha) Glen Rushen (2007, 12.27 ha) Greeba Mountain & Central Hills (2009, 1,080.95 ha) Grenaby Gareys (2021, 74.82 ha) Jurby Airfield (2005, 63.04 ha) Langness, Derbyhaven & Sandwick (2001, 310 ha) Marine Drive (2021, 82.35 ha) Maughold Cliffs & Brooghs (2011, 53.63 ha) Port St Mary Ledges & Kallow Point (2011, 14.79 ha) Poyll Vaaish Coast (2007, 44.76 ha) Ramsey Estuary (designated but later rescinded in 2010; 15.8 ha) Ramsey Mooragh Shore (2006, 2.65 ha) Rosehill Quarry, Billown (2006, 1.37 ha) Santon Gorge & Port Soldrick (2012, 24.35 ha)

Marine Nature Reserves The Island's first marine nature reserve was designated in Ramsey Bay in October 2011. In 2018, nine further Marine Nature Reserves were given statutory protection. The ten Marine Nature Reserves around the Isle of Man cover over 10% of the country's territorial waters, in accordance with international requirements. Ramsey Bay 2011 Baie ny Carrickey 2018 Calf and Wart Bank 2018 Douglas Bay 2018 Langness 2018 Laxey Bay 2018 Little Ness 2018 Niarbyl Bay 2018 Port Erin Bay 2018 West Coast 2018

Eelgrass Conservation Zones (Statutory – within MNRs) Eelgrass Zostera marina is a legally protected species on the Isle of Man. Between 2011 and 2018, four strictly protected Eelgrass Conservation Zones have been designated to protect this important species. Ramsey Bay MNR - Port Lewaigue & Ballure area (2011) Baie ny Carrickey MNR - east of Gansey Point (2018) Langness MNR - Fort Island Gully (2018) Laxey Bay MNR - east of Gob ny Silvas (2018)

Eelgrass Voluntary Zones (Non-statutory – both in and outside MNRs) In 2023, three existing statutory Eelgrass Conservation Zones were expanded on a voluntary basis (noting that, regardless of this 'voluntary' status, the species is still legally fully protected from reckless disturbance), with a further new site identified. Ramsey Bay - a considerably larger area than the statutory zone (2023) Langness - Derbyhaven Bay, northwest of Fort Island, separate from the Fort Island Gully statutory site (2023) Laxey Bay - a considerably larger area than the statutory zone (2023) Bulgham Bay - discovered in 2021, the only Eelgrass Voluntary Zone outside of an MNR (2023)

Areas of Special Protection Ayres Gravel Pit designated 2001, 41 hectares. In 2019 this became a nature reserve managed by Manx BirdLife.

Bird Sanctuaries Bird sanctuaries were formerly designated by that name under the Wild Birds Protection Act 1932. This designation was superseded by "Areas of Special Protection for Birds" under the Wildlife Act 1990; however, the following formerly designated Bird Sanctuaries remain protected:

Barnell Reservoir (Patrick) (1979) 0.02 km2 Tynwald National Park and Arboretum (1982) Derbyhaven, Langness and Fort Island and foreshores adjoining (1936) Renscault and Ballachrink (West Baldwin) (1978) 0.18 km2 The Willows (Ballamodha, Malew) (1984) 0.01 km2

Registered Heathland Protected from unlicensed burning or destruction by the Heath Burning Act 2003.

Ballacowin (part DEFA, part private: Glen Ruy, Slieau Lhost Area) Ballaugh Mountain (DEFA) Beary Mountain (including the Twelve Shares; private, multiple owners) Bienn y Phott (DEFA) Bradda (part DEFA, part private) Calf of Man (MNH) Carraghyn (Private) Central Hills ASSI (DEFA) Creg ny Baa (part DEFA, part private Slieau Lhost and Slieau Meayl) Cringle Great Park (DEFA) Cronk ny Arrey Laa (DEFA) Cross Vein, Watertrough Park and Glen Rushen (DEFA) Dalby Mountain (Private, multiple owners) Glen Auldyn (Private) Greeba Mountain (DEFA) Injebreck (Private) Lanagore and Eary Cushlin (DEFA and MNH) Maughold Mountain (DEFA) Michael Hills (DEFA) Mull (Meayll) Hill (Private) Mullagh Ouyr (Private) North Barrule (MUA) Peel Hill (Private and Peel Commissioners) Slieau Lhean (DEFA) Slieau Lhost and Slieau Ree (DEFA) Slieau Managh (DEFA) Slieau Whallian (Private) Snaefell (DEFA) South Barrule (DEFA) Surby (DEFA) Chasms and Spanish Head (MNH) The Rheast (DEFA) Windy Common (DEFA)

Nature Reserves and Wildlife Sites

Manx Wildlife Trust (MWT) was founded on 6th March 1973 and is the Isle of Man’s leading nature conservation charity.

As of May 2026, MWT manages 37 nature reserves, including the Calf of Man which is managed with and on behalf of Manx National Trust. These reserves total , or around 2% of the Isle of Man and include:

NameAcquiredAreaNotesAust2016 Ballachrink2011 Part of the Renscault & Ballachrink Bird SanctuaryBallachurry2016 Ballamooar Meadow1994 Ballanoa2026 Barnell Reservoir1974 & 1984 Part of the Ballamoar Bird Sanctuary (Patrick)Billown2023 Includes Rosehill Quarry ASSIBreagle Glen & Cronk Aash1988, 1991 & 2010 Calf of Man N/A Owned by Manx National Trust, co-managed in partnership with Manx Wildlife Trust since 2006. Candidate Ramsar site and forms the "Calf of Man" Important Bird & Biodiversity AreaClose y Corvalley2026 Close e Quayle1994 & 2003 Close Sartfield1987Part of the Ballaugh Curraghs ASSI and Ramsar SiteClose Umpson1995, 2026 Part of the Ballaugh Curraghs ASSI and Ramsar SiteClose y Vaillee2026 Part of the Ballaugh Curraghs ASSI and Ramsar SiteCooildarry1976 & 1979 Creg y Cowin2023 Creggans2025 Part of the "Isle of Man Hills" Important Bird & Biodiversity AreaCronk y Bing1993An Area of Special Scientific Interest and a National Nature ReserveCronk y Chule2026Curragh Feeagh1986 Curragh Kiondroghad (Onchan Wetlands)1988 & 1990 Dalby Mountain1995 & 2024 Candidate Ramsar site, Part of the "Isle of Man Hills" Important Bird & Biodiversity AreaDalby Mountain Fields1995 Part of the "Isle of Man Hills" Important Bird & Biodiversity Area Dobbie's Meadow2013 Earystane1998 Fell's Field1998 Glen Auldyn2025 Part of the "Isle of Man Hills" Important Bird & Biodiversity Area Glen Dhoo1995 Glion Darragh2024 Goshen1995, 1998, 2008 & 2023Part of Ballaugh Curraghs ASSI and Ramsar SiteHairpin Woodland Park2019, 2022, 2024 & 2025 Lough Cranstal1989 & 2022 Candidate Ramsar siteLough Gat e Whing2016 Miss Guyler's Meadow1989 Moaney & Crawyn's Meadows1995 Part of the Ballaugh Curraghs ASSI and Ramsar SiteMullen e Cloie2008 The Keyllagh2024 Total This represents approximately 2% of the Isle of Man's land area (57,198ha) Designated Wildlife Sites