The bay is enclosed by the Iveragh Peninsula on the north side, and the Beara Peninsula on the south, with most of its shores belonging to County Kerry, except for a small south-western part which belongs to County Cork.

[citation needed] Kenmare River and the surrounding areas are a sanctuary to wild salmon[6] and a home to many other species, including narrow-mouthed whorl snail, lesser horseshoe bat, otter, and common seal, arctic tern, burrowing anemone, and many more.

[2] Rivers flowing into it, including Roughty, Sheen, Slaheny, and Blackwater, have been known to be abundant in fish, in particular sea trout.

A decline in fish numbers was observed in the mid 1990s,[7] and local fishermen communities put the blame on sea lice infestations caused by the operation of salmon farms.

[9] Approximately 2,000 ha (5,000 acres) stretching from Kenmare to Lamb's Head on the Iveragh Peninsula, and to Dursey Sound on the Beara Peninsula[10] is now designated as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC)[11] which are "prime wildlife conservation areas in the country, considered to be important on a European as well as Irish level", even though the proposal to designate was initially opposed.