On 25 August 2005, the United Nations officially recognised Alderney's west coast and the Burhou Islands as wetlands of worldwide importance. It became the first designated Ramsar site in the Bailiwick, Guernsey followed with its own site on 1 March 2006. The site - entitled Alderney West Coast and the Burhou Islands - extends to 1,500 hectares (some 600n hectares more than mainland Alderney) and includes the waters from the island's west coast out to the northern gannet colony Ortac, the Burhous and the islets and reefs that surround it, as well as Les Etacs.

Tags: Alderney