Safeguarding Forth Seabird Islands
UK seabirds are in trouble, find out how we’ve teamed up with the Scottish Seabird Centre to protect two globally important seabird havens.
Why Scotland’s sensational seabirds need saving
Scotland’s seas are home to internationally important colonies of iconic seabirds including Puffins, Razorbills, Kittiwakes, Guillemots and Gannets. In the Firth of Forth alone, RSPB Bass Rock is home to one of the biggest Gannet colonies in the world, and in recent years, RSPB Craigleith Island has supported around 10,000 breeding Puffins.
Sadly, these incredible birds are under growing pressure from climate change, avian flu, unsustainable fishing and, in some colonies, invasive non-native species. Inappropriate offshore wind developments, like Berwick Bank Wind Farm, are also a grave threat to our seabirds.
As a result, their numbers have plummeted and 70% of Scotland’s seabird species are now in decline. Yet, by working together, we can turn the tide for these brilliant birds. That’s why we’ve teamed up with the Scottish Seabird Centre (SSC) on the Safeguarding Iconic Forth Seabird Islands in Partnership project.
What’s the Safeguarding Iconic Forth Seabird Islands in Partnership project?
It’s more than just a mouthful! This ambitious partnership project aims to protect vulnerable seabird colonies on both Bass Rock and Craigleith Island. The RSPB acquired the islands from their private landowner in 2026. Now, work is well under way to secure the future of these wildlife havens and support Scottish seabird recovery.
RSPB Scotland Director, Anne McCall said,
With the pressures facing Scotland’s seabirds intensifying, we have a responsibility to act. This partnership gives us the opportunity to drive forward seabird recovery at this crucial time. By working together, the two charities aim to secure a more resilient future for the islands for the benefit of wildlife and the people who love and care for them.”
Our objectives
Our partnership with the Scottish Seabird Centre (SSC) will deliver an ambitious programme of practical conservation action to help Scotland’s seabirds thrive. This includes research and monitoring, engagement with communities and decision-makers, and the following six key actions.
1. Form a strong partnership approach
By forming a strong partnership with the SSC, we can manage and deliver maximum conservation benefits as well as powerful advocacy for the wider protection of marine biodiversity.
2. Draw on expertise from both the RSPB and the SSC
By sharing our expertise, we can develop an ambitious management plan and grow a greater understanding of how to ensure the best outcomes for seabirds.
We’ll do this through practical conservation, monitoring and research, supporting sustainable wildlife tourism and other partnership action. We’ll then share our knowledge with the wider conservation community.
3. Enhance biodiversity
Through our work with dedicated volunteers, and engagement with the local community and visitors, we’ll strengthen our ability to prevent non-native invasive species from returning and establishing on the islands.
4. Deepen public connection
We'll work closely with the local community to celebrate the islands and develop a shared sense of ownership and vision for their future, empowering them to tell their own stories and breaking down barriers so more benefit from the partnership's work. Using the new 360-degree cameras placed on Bass Rock, visitors to the Scottish Seabird Centre and those further afield will be able to enjoy the island's wildlife without causing disturbance.
5. Champion Scotland’s seabirds
By forging a deeper connection with the public, we’ll also nurture a greater understanding of the challenges facing our seabirds and what actions we can all take to help them thrive.
6. Provide safe access to Bass Rock and Craigleith
Together, we’ll ensure that staff, volunteers and researchers can access the islands safely and securely. This will enable us to maintain continuous conservation research and management on the reserves.
A resilient future based on past success
SOS Puffin
On Craigleith Island, numbers of breeding Puffins are bucking broader trends of decline. In fact, the population of 10,000 individual breeding birds, recorded in 2025, represents a quadrupling of their numbers!
This amazing success is largely due to SOS Puffin, an existing collaboration between the RSPB and SSC which will continue alongside our new partnership. Through SOS Puffin, volunteers remove invasive Tree Mallow plants from the island, freeing up the land, once more, for the birds’ nesting burrows. Watch the video to find out more.
Bass Rock’s Gannets bouncing back
Since suffering huge losses from avian flu in 2022, when the 150,000-strong breeding colony reduced by nearly 30%, Bass Rock’s Gannets have also shown signs of recovery. By 2025, numbers had returned to around 100,000 individual birds.
The healthy condition of both islands and their bird colonies is a result of the SSC’s work with the previous landowner, brilliant volunteers and local community members. Now the islands have joined our nature reserve network, our new partnership will build on past successes to help these precious sanctuaries and birds thrive indefinitely.
Harry Huyton, CEO, Scottish Seabird Centre, discussed the project:
“This ambitious partnership between the Scottish Seabird Centre and the RSPB builds on years of dedicated stewardship, where our volunteers, local communities, and the Dalrymple family have worked tirelessly to restore these islands – most notably quadrupling Craigleith’s puffin population despite national declines.
"Together with RSPB Scotland, we will ensure these vital sanctuaries are conserved forever, deepen public connection to these incredible places, and inspire collective action to protect Scotland’s iconic seabirds for generations to come.”
Thank you!
This has been made possible with generous support from the National Heritage Memorial Fund, funded by UK Government, The National Lottery Heritage Fund, with thanks to National Lottery players, and generous private donors.
Along with the support of our fantastic members, they’re helping us to deliver a brighter future for our threatened birds and wildlife. Thank you.
Related links
The Scottish Seabird Centre
To explore Scotland’s seas and find out more about the Scottish Seabird Centre, its work and how you can visit, fly over to www.seabird.org.
Marine life and seabirds in crisis
UK shores & seas are home to amazing wildlife, including around 8 million globally important seabirds. Find out what we’re doing to protect them.