SITE MANAGEMENT STATEMENT Lerwick ZE1 0LL Site Code: 1234 Tel: 01595 693345 E: Northern [email protected]
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NORTH FETLAR Ground Floor Site of Special Scientific Interest Stewart Building Alexandra Wharf SITE MANAGEMENT STATEMENT Lerwick ZE1 0LL Site code: 1234 Tel: 01595 693345 E: [email protected] Purpose This is a public statement prepared by SNH for owners and occupiers of the SSSI. It outlines the reasons it is designated as an SSSI and provides guidance on how its special natural features should be conserved or enhanced. This Statement does not affect or form part of the statutory notification and does not remove the need to apply for consent for operations requiring consent. We welcome your views on this statement. Vord Hill, North Fetlar Natural features of Condition of feature Other North Fetlar SSSI (date monitored) relevant designations Calaminarian grassland and Favourable, maintained. SAC serpentine heath (September 2005) Arctic tern, breeding Unfavourable, recovering. SPA (June 2002) Breeding bird assemblage Favourable, maintained. SPA (heathland) (July 2009) Arctic skua, breeding Favourable, recovered. SPA (June 2006) Great skua, breeding Favourable, maintained. SPA (June 2006) Red-necked phalarope, breeding Unfavourable, declining. SPA (August 2002) Whimbrel, breeding Unfavourable, declining. SPA (June 2007) Common seal Unfavourable, declining. (November 2004) Grey seal Unfavourable, declining. (November 2004) Features of overlapping Natura Condition of feature SPA or SAC sites that are not notified as SSSI (date monitored) natural features Base-rich fens Favourable, maintained. SAC (September 2009) Dry heaths Favourable, maintained. SAC (September 2005) Dunlin, breeding Favourable, maintained. SPA (June 2003) Fulmar, breeding Favourable, maintained. SPA (June 2002) Breeding seabird assemblage Favourable, maintained. SPA (June 2002) Features of overlapping SSSI that Condition of feature SSSI are not notified as natural features (date monitored) of North Fetlar SSSI Ordovician Igneous Favourable, maintained. Tressa Ness to (November 2006) Colbinstoft Ordovician Igneous Favourable, maintained. Virva (August 2000) Description of the site North Fetlar is notified as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) for its biological importance, supporting a range of interesting plant communities, large numbers of breeding birds and many breeding grey and common seals. The soils of North Fetlar SSSI are derived from the underlying serpentine rocks and are alkaline but nutrient-poor. As a result they support an unusual form of heathland, with plants normally found on acid soils, such as heather and butterwort, growing alongside wild flowers such as mountain everlasting and alpine meadow rue that are usually associated with limestone sites. Similar serpentine rocks form much of eastern Unst but they are rare in the rest of Britain. Consequently, North Fetlar has some of the finest examples of serpentine heath and fen in Britain. The nationally scarce northern rock-cress is found on the SSSI, although Norwegian sandwort and Shetland mouse- ear which grow alongside it in Unst, do not occur here. A number of locally important species such as stone bramble, dwarf willow and black spleenwort can also be seen. North Fetlar SSSI is also one of Shetland’s most important areas for upland breeding birds, with nationally important numbers of red-necked phalarope, whimbrel, bonxie (great skua) and Arctic skua breeding. The arctic skua population has made a partial recovery following a decline between 1986 and 2001 suspected to be caused by a shortage of food. The red-necked phalarope and whimbrel populations have both shown large declines since 1986. The cause of this decline is unknown although as there has been no reduction in suitable habitat on the SSSI it is likely that off-site factors are responsible or possibly predation by the growing great skua population. Red-throated diver, dunlin, golden plover and lapwing are also here in high densities. Important breeding seabirds include black guillemot, tirrick (Arctic tern), puffin as well as small numbers of Manx shearwater at one of only a few known Shetland colonies. The Arctic tern population showed a steep decline between 1992 and 2000 with the most likely cause being a shortage of food brought about by climate change. The most recent site condition monitoring in 2002 showed some signs of recovery. From 1967 to 1975, North Fetlar was the only British breeding location for snowy owl, but none has been resident on the island since 1992. The beaches below North Fetlar’s cliffs form one of the largest grey seal pupping sites in Shetland with a maximum of about 150 pups being born each year in the past, although numbers are now much fewer. Common seals also breed and haul-out in large numbers on the islands north of Fetlar (Sound Gruney, Daaey and Urie Lingey). Both the common and grey seal populations are in an unfavourable condition. A loss of habitat did occur in the early 1990s through a rock fall on the north side of the island which prevented the use of some former haul-out sites. Another possible contributing factor to the decline is the large number of aquaculture developments around Hascosay and Uyeasound which may limit the establishment of new colonies. Past and present management The land has been used for rough grazing throughout recent history, although in the past there would have been fewer sheep and more ponies and cattle. In some areas of North Fetlar, notably Oddsetter, old peat workings have provided the combination of habitats required by red-necked phalaropes. Peat is no longer cut from here, but in the late 1970s and early 80’s, small scale pool digging was undertaken by the RSPB. In recent years, larger excavations have been conducted with a digger. The dominant land use is sheep grazing, although cattle and ponies are still grazed in some areas. The North Hill is a regulated common grazing, stocked with pure bred Shetland ewes and a few Shetland ponies. The souming on the common scattald (1025 ewes plus followers) has not been fully utilised for some time. The SSSI also includes a number of hill apportionments with varying management regimes. Grazing is the dominant activity affecting natural vegetation. The low stock numbers on the open scattald in recent years led to a build up of dead vegetation which may choke out less robust plant species and so affect botanical diversity. On the other hand, reducing stock numbers in some more heavily grazed apportionments would lead to improvements in the quality of plant communities. In some areas, supplementary feeding has damaged the vegetation as a result of trampling, nutrient enrichment, localised grazing pressure and self-seeding from hay grasses. SNH has previously entered into a number of management agreements within the SSSI, which have produced positive results in terms of grazing intensity and limiting agricultural improvements. The majority of these have now ended and it is expected that most can be replaced with Rural Development Contracts under the Scotland Rural Development Programme. Within the mires the amount of open water and swamp vegetation decline over time as the pools are colonised by plants and vegetation mats form, making them less attractive to the phalaropes. Research by the RSPB has identified the habitat mosaic which best suits this species. Management to achieve this mosaic is now underway within the SSSI, through pool creation, raising water levels and seasonal grazing. Part of the island of Fetlar was made an Area of Special Protection by Scottish Ministers orders under s3 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended). This statutory bird sanctuary was established in 1968 and covers a large part of North Fetlar SSSI. Under this Order access within the sanctuary area covering 684 ha is illegal during the period March to August inclusive except with the permission of the RSPB Scotland. Two Nature Conservation Orders (NCOs) are in place on the site and remain active. The first NCO commenced in 1987 and prevents drainage, reseeding and intensification of sheep farming on an 86 hectare area in the western corner of the SSSI including parts of the Mires of Oddsetter and the Green Burn. The second NCO, which commenced in 1993, prevents drainage, reseeding and the development of a market garden. This NCO relates to the 39 hectare Virda Water apportionment in the southern section of the SSSI. Objectives for Management (and key factors influencing the condition of natural features) We wish to work with the owners to protect the site and to maintain and where necessary enhance its features of special interest. SNH aims to carry out site survey, monitoring and research as appropriate to increase our knowledge and understanding of the site and its natural features and monitor the effectiveness of its management. The EU Habitats and Birds Directives oblige Government to avoid, in SACs and SPAs, the deterioration of natural habitats and the habitats of species, as well as disturbance of the species for which the areas have been designated, in so far as such disturbance could be significant in relation to the objectives of these Directives. The objectives below have been assessed against these requirements. All authorities proposing to carry out or permit to be carried out operations likely to have a significant effect on the European interests of this SSSI must assess those operations against the relevant Natura conservation objectives (which are listed on our website through the SNHi - SiteLink facility). 1. To maintain the condition and extent of the coastal habitats, including sea cliffs and beaches. Discourage inappropriate coastal developments and activities. 2. To maintain the population and distribution of the seabird and seal populations within the site and avoid significant disturbance to their habitats. Ensure that the site is managed in a way that does not adversely affect the seabird and seal interests. 3. To maintain the condition of the calaminarian grassland and serpentine heaths and promote floral diversity. Ensure that land uses do not damage notified features. Consider entering into Rural Development Contracts to promote appropriate seasonal grazing.