Lihou island was identified as a ""Site of Nature Conservation Importance" in 1989, and as part of an "Important Bird Area"" which includes parts of the shoreline of Guernsey. On 1 March 2006, Lihou and the L'Erée headland were designated a part of Guernsey's first Ramsar wetland site, covering about of land and sea. This has created a marine reserve for the extensive variety of wildlife including more than 200 species of seaweed on the shores of Lihou, and more than 150 species of birds observed in the area.