RSPB

Letter Writing Briefing

Last Chance for Scotland’s Seabirds

Our seabirds are the fastest declining group of bird species globally. In Scotland, coastal cliff-tops that were once immense seabird 'cities' have been left like eerily silent ghost towns. The problem will continue to worsen unless the Scottish Government takes action now.

The Government is proposing 33 Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) that will protect some of Scotland’s most amazing marine wildlife, but unfortunately they ignore those most in need of protection - Scotland’s seabirds.

MPAs have been proposed in different locations around Scotland’s coast and out at sea. These areas will protect important species and habitats from marine activities that could harm them. MPAs will do a lot to help Scotland’s seas, and the many creatures within them, but unfortunately, they will do nothing for the majority of Scotland’s seabirds.

The Scottish Government argue that seabirds are already adequately protected, but this is not the case. We have seen terrible declines in many seabird populations over the last ten years and scientists predict that we could see seabirds go extinct from some parts of the country within the next ten years. We need MPAs that protect areas of national importance for our iconic seabirds, not just areas of European importance, which is currently the case.

The proposals for MPAs must be improved. The Scottish Government must designate all the proposed MPAs but also add seabirds to the list of species to be protected. In addition, the Firth of Forth Banks Complex proposed MPA must have sandeels added to the list of species to be protected. Finally all proposed MPAs for Black Guillemot must be protected.

Our seabirds face regional extinction if inaction continues. Please write to the Scottish Government today. What you can do

The Scottish Government needs to know that there is public support for MPAs for seabirds, so it is extremely important that they receive your letter. The consultation asks questions about specific sites, so we’ve given you some ideas about what you might want to say. Please try and stick to the question and answer format so it’s easier for the Government to record your answers.

We’ve included information on the most important questions - there may be other sites you want to comment on. A full list of questions, along with more information on the consultation, can be found at www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2013/07/2072

We encourage you to add a personal flavour to your letter by describing why the seas and coasts close to where you live, or where you visit, are so special, and why the marine environment and its wildlife is so important to you. After all, this is about your seas, your wildlife and your seabirds.

Some suggestions of how you could answer are as follows:

Q1 Do you support the development of an MPA network in Scotland’s seas?

MPAs are needed to protect Scotland’s amazing marine wildlife, including seabirds. Reports from the British Trust for Ornithology and other independent scientists show that MPAs can and should benefit seabirds. The Scottish Government is legally required to create an ‘ecologically coherent’ network of MPAs, but the network is not coherent unless we include protected areas for seabird feeding ‘hotspots’.

Q2 Clyde Sea Sill; Q3 East Cliffs; Q6 – ; Q13 Monach Isles; Q19 ; Q21 .

All the sites listed above should be designated to protect black guillemot. Additionally, other seabird species must be protected in this site and seabirds must be added to the list of designated features.

Q28 & Q29 Firth of Forth proposed MPA.

The proposed Firth of Forth Banks Complex MPA must be designated, as recommended by the Joint Nature Conservancy Council and Scottish Natural Heritage. It is important that sandeels should be protected in the Firth of Forth MPA. Sandeels in this area are an important food source for seabirds and have a critical ecological function on which many other marine animals are dependent. Seabirds must be added to the list of designated features and be protected in this site.

Q35 Is the proposed network complete?

Without protection for seabirds the network cannot be considered complete. The Scottish Government has committed to an international agreement to create an ecologically coherent network which is ‘representative’ of nationally important species and “particularly important for highly mobile species, such as certain birds.” MPAs are required to complement Special Protection Areas and offer seabirds the level of protection required to help stem the drastic and continued declines in their numbers over the last twenty years.

Where to send your letter

You can submit your response by emailing it to:[email protected] or by writing to: MPA Network Consultation, Scottish Government, Marine Planning and Policy Division, Area 1-A South, Victoria Quay, Edinburgh, EH66QQ.

The closing date for submission is 13 November 2013. Please include your name, address, and state, “This is an individual response to the Planning Scotland’s Seas MPA Consultation” in your letter.

To monitor the progress of our campaign we would be most grateful if you could send copies of your submissions, and any replies, to: Thomas Quinn, Campaigns Team, RSPB Scotland, 2 Lochside View, Edinburgh, EH12 9DH. Alternatively, you can email copies to [email protected].

We can’t thank you enough for your support as a letter writer. You time and effort makes a huge difference to the environment.