RSPB joins calls for network of Scottish marine reserves

Published on Monday 17 March 2008 22:28

A LEADING environmental group yesterday called for the introduction of 24 marine protected areas around Scotland's coastline to help conserve threatened seabird colonies and the fragile environment.

The RSPB has identified the marine areas as being of national importance for seabirds in Scotland, among more than 70 zones around the UK's shore said to be worthy of protection.

A new report reveals that Scotland has 45 per cent of the European Union's breeding seabirds, with many species enduring a run of poor breeding seasons, and yet the sites identified have no legal protection.

The report, Safeguarding our Seabirds: Marine Protected Areas for the UK's Seabirds, has been published just months after the launch of The Scotsman's Save Our Seas campaign.

That demanded the creation of a network of reserves and protected areas around the coast, along with a system of marine planning to organise human activity, and for control of conservation of the sea to be devolved to Scotland.

The Scottish Government has already pledged to produce a complete audit of Scotland's seas which is expected to play a key role in the development of a marine bill to protect sea life.

Lloyd Austin, the head of policy for RSPB Scotland, said: "Despite many sea cliffs which seabirds use to breed having environmental protection, the sea next to them which forms an important feeding area for seabirds has no such safety net.

"We don't think that there should be a complete halt to human activity in these areas, simply that these activities should be managed so as not to disrupt food sources or breeding success."

A Scottish Government spokesman said: "Improved protection for the marine environment is vital to our ambitions for a greener Scotland.

"That's why we're committed to bringing forward a Scottish Marine Bill to deliver better protection for the wildlife that inhabits our coasts and seas."

Scottish waters are home to colonies containing more than five million seabirds. More than a third of the world's grey seals live here and it is home to 29 species of whales and dolphins.

However, there are signs of trouble, with damage to important habitats on the seabed from dredging, important fish stocks below sustainable levels, and salmon returning from the sea in ever fewer numbers.

Marine litter – which causes sealife deaths worldwide – is also on the increase.