RSPB Scotland calls for action to save seabirds as new conservation plan launches

RSPB Scotland is urging people to support Scottish seabirds and help prevent any further decline in the species.

This comes after the launch of a public consultation aiming to reverse the decline of Scotland's seabirds.

On December 11, the Scottish Government launched its Scottish Seabird Conservation Action Plan consultation at the Scottish Seabird Centre in North Berwick.

The plan, developed in partnership with NatureScot, the Joint Nature Conservation Committee, RSPB and the British Trust for Ornithology includes more than 50 actions.

Some key points are enhancing food availability by improving conditions for prey, providing safe nesting areas by eradicating non-native invasive predators, increasing survival prospects by reducing by-catch, key research and monitoring of Scottish seabirds and promoting awareness and international engagement.

Anne McCall, director of RSPB Scotland, said: “It’s great to see the Scottish Seabird Conservation Action Plan being launched today as our seabirds face a crisis that demands immediate action if we are to help them recover and flourish.

“With 70% of Scottish breeding seabird species in decline and five being added to the red list seabirds are battling multiple threats and are at the mercy of human made impacts.”

Between 1986 and 2019, seabird numbers fell by 50% while the most recent assessment shows that between 2015 and 2021, 70% of Scotland’s seabird species are in decline. However, these numbers were recorded before the arrival of avian flu, which had a substantial impact on bird populations.

Kittiwake with its chicks on a cliff (Image: Mick Howes)This extreme decline in species of seabirds is due to diverse factors including food shortage, loss of habitat and human activities such as offshore marine renewables and fisheries.

The most well-known factor is climate change with warming sea temperatures and severe weather.

These factors are the main causes of the biggest declines ever recorded in Scotland’s seabird populations.

“These pressures need to be tackled with urgency, ambition and importantly underpinned by robust investment for our seabirds to thrive,” said McCall. 

“As home to over half the UK’s seabirds, Scotland is also globally important for many species making the responsibility all the greater.”

RSPB Scotland called for urgent action to turn the fate of Scotland’s seabird species “including the beloved Puffin whose numbers declined by 32% in Scotland between 2000 and 2021 and are threatened with global extinction”.

Puffins numbers declined by 32% in Scotland between 2000 and 2021

Acting Net Zero and Energy Secretary Gillian Martin said: “It’s important that we all play our part in protecting seabirds which is why this action plan is for everyone with an interest in our marine and coastal environment. I’m confident that with concerted effort and shared responsibility, we can stop the declines we are seeing in our seabird populations and increase their resilience to a changing climate thereby securing their future. "

Colin Galbraith, NatureScot Chair, said that the work being done now "must stop the declines we’ve seen over the last 20 years – and help tackle broader nature and climate emergencies".

The consultation is open until March 4 and is available on the website of the Scottish Government.