Concerns for Scottish seabirds
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) Scotland has warned that new plans for Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) will be of no benefit to the majority of Scotland's seabird species.
Proposals by the Scottish Government to introduce MPAs do not go far enough, according to the nature charity, who would like to see more native birds protected.
As it stands, it is believed that black guillemots are the only seabird that will gain protection from the plans.
Recent colony counts carried out by RSPB Scotland indicate steep declines in species such as kittiwakes, razorbills and guillemots, with numbers falling by up to 87 per cent in certain areas.
The charity reported that this year's cold spring may have added to the long-term challenges faced by seabird populations.
Lloyd Austin, head of conservation policy at RSPB Scotland, said: "We welcome this opportunity to put our full support behind MPAs, they are vital for the protection of Scotland’s amazing marine life.
"However, the Scottish Government has missed a great opportunity to do something positive for seabirds. Many species are suffering worrying declines in numbers so whilst puffins, razorbills, kittiwakes, etcetera, may be protected on land, without MPAs to protect their foraging areas, their colonies are simply a safe place to starve.”
The RSPB is the UK's largest nature conservation charity, protecting threatened birds and wildlife in towns, coastal areas and countryside.
For more than 10 years, RSPB Scotland has worked with stakeholders, fishermen, renewables and shipping industries, as well as the Scottish Government, to ensure a better marine environment.
