Listen
Protection for seabirds
18/04/2008
Scotland's seabird population could be set to receive greater protection.
Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead today announced that 31 Special Protection Areas (SPAs) are being considered for extension up to four kilometres out to sea, beyond the land-based habitat currently covered.
Mr Lochhead said:
"Scotland's seabird populations are of European and global renown and it is absolutely vital that they receive the protection they deserve. A seabird's marine habitat is as vital to its ability to survive as nesting sites on dry land.
"That's why I've asked Scottish Natural Heritage to consult on proposals to extend 31 SPAs out to sea. These include a number of magnificent island cities of seabirds, such as Fair Isle, Ailsa Craig, the Bass Rock and St Kilda.
"These are important colonies for seabirds and the proposed extensions would give greater protection to iconic birds like puffins, gannets and guillemots.
"Although I do not envisage any impact on economic sectors such as fishing, I am interested in any information on the potential impact of the proposed extensions so we can ensure the management of the sites takes account of these issues.
"Anyone who cares about these beautiful birds should have their say and take part in the consultation."
To date, 144 Special Protection Area's (SPAs) have been classified in Scotland under the EC Birds Directive, 49 of which relate to seabird interests.
Special Protection Areas (SPAs) are strictly protected sites classified in accordance with Article 4 of the EC Directive on the conservation of wild birds (79/409/EEC), also known as the Birds Directive (which came into force in April 1979).
They are classified for rare and vulnerable birds, listed in Annex I to the Birds Directive, and for regularly occurring migratory species. SPAs are intended to safeguard the habitats of the species for which they are selected and to protect the birds from significant disturbance.
The 31 being considered for extension are:
- Canna and Sanday SPA
- Marwick Head SPA
- North Colonsay and Western Cliffs SPA
- Rum SPA
- St Abbs to Fast Castle SPA
- Ailsa Craig SPA
- Buchan Ness to Collieston SPA
- Calf of Eday SPA
- Cape Wrath SPA
- Copinsay SPA
- East Caithness Cliffs SPA
- Fair Isle SPA
- Fetlar SPA
- Firth of Forth Islands SPAs
- Flannan Isles SPA
- Foula SPA
- Foulsheugh SPA
- Handa SPA
- Hermaness, Saxa Vord and Valla Field SPA
- Hoy SPA
- Mingulay and Berneray SPA
- North Caithness Cliffs SPA
- North Rona and Sula Sgeir SPA
- Noss SPA
- Rousay SPA
- Shiant Isles SPA
- St Kilda SPA
- Sule Skerry and Sule Stack SPA
- Sumburgh Head SPA
- Troup Head SPA
- West Westray SPA