Retarrier Ledges

Western Rocks

Site of Special Scientific Interest
Location within Isles of Scilly
Area of Search	Cornwall
Grid reference	SV850070
Coordinates	49°52′13″N 6°24′02″W / 49.8702°N 6.4006°W / 49.8702; -6.4006Coordinates: 49°52′13″N 6°24′02″W / 49.8702°N 6.4006°W / 49.8702; -6.4006
Interest	Biological
Area	62.7 hectares (0.627 km2; 0.242 sq mi)
Notification	1971 (1971)
Natural England website

The Western Rocks are a group of uninhabited islands and rocks in the south–western part of the Isles of Scilly, United Kingdom, and are renowned for the numerous shipwrecks in the area and the nearby Bishop Rock lighthouse. In 1971, the rocks and islands were designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest for their breeding sea birds. Landing on the islands is both difficult and discouraged and there are few published records of visits by naturalists.

The islands are largely managed as nature reserves by the Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust, principally for breeding seabirds and grey seals (Halichoerus grypus). There are eleven species of breeding seabirds with the European shag (Phalacrocorax aristotelis) and European storm petrel (Hydrobates pelagicus) of national importance. The other species are kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla), razorbill (Alca torda), guillemot (Uria aalge), cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo), fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis), puffin (Fratercula arctica), great black–backed gull (Larus marinus), lesser black–backed gull (Larus fuscus) and herring gull (Larus argentatus).