The Alderney coastline hosts large gannet and puffin colonies

The Alderney Wildlife Trust says it needs �5,000 to continue its drive to gain special conservation status for a part of the coast, which hosts the largest puffin breeding colony in the Isles.

It wants the area, which includes Clonque Bay and Hannaine Bay and the islands of Burhou Ortac and Les Etacs, to receive Ramsar designation.

The area also has a gannet colony which includes 1% of the world's breeding population, with about 6,000 breeding pairs.

Additional funds

The trust says that, so far, the results of its moves towards its application for Ramsar status have been promising, but the costs of proceeding will exceed its budget.

The additional funds are for detailed surveys required in the next stage of preparatory work.

Trust manager Roland Gauvain said the gannet colony alone would be enough to justify Ramsar designation.

"We are now engaged in meetings with the States of Guernsey and Jersey and a number of non-governmental organisations and are bringing the state of play to them."

The trust is hoping the UK government will give preliminary approval for a Ramsar application before the end of the year.

The Ramsar designation aims to protect and promote conservation of wetlands of international importance.

Gaining the status will help the trust ensure marine habitats around the island are protected.