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Saving seabirds in Scotland

Scotland has the longest and most diverse coastline, richest marine life, and largest seabird colonies in the UK.

Scotland's seas are truly extraordinary - home to half of Scotland's biodiversity, and 45% of the EU's breeding seabirds, as well as a huge variety of other species, from basking sharks to rare coldwater corals.

Wildlife watching, fishing and other marine industries bring great financial benefits to our coastal communities.

It's in everyone's interests, therefore, that our marine environment is managed sustainably, to allow us to reap the benefit of healthy, productive and diverse seas and coasts.
 
We are committed to speaking up for Scotland's seabirds – 5 million at the last complete count - that's one seabird for every person in the country! Many of these birds rely on our reserves when they come to land to breed. Over 27,000 pairs of gannets circle and dive around the sheer cliffs of our Ailsa Craig nature reserve - the fourth largest gannetry in the UK.

Over 60,000 seabirds nest at our Fowlsheugh nature reserve in Aberdeenshire, and cliff top paths offer close up views of this seabird city. Sumburgh Head, at the southern tip of mainland Shetland, supports more than 32,000 seabirds, including tammie norries - that's puffins to people outside of Shetland. Our Hoy nature reserve on Orkney is home to the Old Man of Hoy, the world-famous rock stack, and one of the UK's largest fulmar colonies.

Legislation must protect our precious wildlife

Although our seabird colonies are still undoubtedly impressive to see, it's no secret that Scotland's seabirds have been faring very badly in recent years. While 2009 saw a good breeding season for some species, the population trend for many colonies is one of chronic decline.

It is now widely accepted that climate change has driven a wholesale change in the ecology of the North Sea, disrupting plankton communities, adversely impacting on sandeels and, in turn, seabirds dependent on these small fish for prey.

It is vital that we increase the resilience of our marine environment to these impacts, and robust legislation is a vital starting point.

The UK Government recently brought into law the UK Marine & Coastal Access Act, while the Marine (Scotland) Act came in to law in March 2010.

It is essential that this legislation is now used to protect some of our most precious wildlife, which has suffered for years with little or no protection from human impacts such as shipping, marine developments, pollution and fishing.

Central to these new laws is the designation of a network of Marine Protected Areas, and a new marine planning system, which should allow for more co-ordinated management of our seas.

Responsibility for the seas around Scotland lies with both the Scottish Government and the UK Government. The complex mix of reserved and devolved powers means that both Scottish and UK legislation is important, and both sets of laws can, and must, work well together.

We have worked with partners in Scottish Environment LINK to ensure that the new Scottish Marine Act has the environment at it's heart - now it is time for all concerned to work at the challenge of putting the words of the Acts in to concrete action.

Last modified: 14 April 2010

Saving seabirds in Scotland

• Marine (Scotland) Act 2010
• Fisheries in Scotland