2 Coastal & Marine Ecosystems

Auchmithie © Kelly Ann Dempsey

Background For centuries people have used the coasts and The reedbeds in the Tay Estuary are the largest estuaries of Tayside as a source of food, for continuous stand of this habitat anywhere in sheltered anchorage and for trade. It is a landscape Britain, one of the largest in Europe - and they are of great beauty, exhibiting a diversity of features the only place in where the rare Bearded from the muddy shallows of Montrose Basin, the tit breeds. The beds of seagrass and seaweed also sand dunes of Barry Links and the wide, nutrient- provide important nursery grounds for flat fish in rich Tay Estuary. The variety of life supported by the summer and food for ducks and geese in coastal habitats includes groups of dolphin and winter. The coasts and estuaries are under porpoise, shoals of commercially important fish, increasing pressure from human activity – tiny zooplankton, resident seabirds and commercial fishing, recreational use, climatic internationally-important numbers of migrant erosion, the development of urban areas and birds such as pink-footed geese. ports, to name just a few.

36 Objectives Marine ecosystems are particularly difficult to 1 Endeavour to reduce the direct pressures on access and understand, although more is known coastal and marine biodiversity by about coastal habitats and our influence upon implementing projects to enhance ecosystem them. Increased consultation and work between health those influencing these habitats has resulted in a 2 Safeguard coastal and marine ecosystems, better understanding for the value of coasts and species and genetic diversity by enhancing estuaries in Tayside. This has engendered a greater connectivity and where possible preventing willingness to work together to conserve and its decline enhance the habitats, at the same time as managing change. 3 Mainstream biodiversity conservation action by raising awareness and the enjoyment of marine and coastal ecosystems of local communities

37 Priority Habitats • Saltmarsh • Intertidal mudflats & Estuarine Reedbeds • Marine • Maritime cliffs

• Sand dunes Montrose beach © Kelly Ann Dempsey

Key Sites Estuaries Maritime Cliff & Slope Sand Dunes of Tay & Eden Estuary SPA Whiting Ness (next to Victoria The northern part of 6,923.29 hectares Park in Arbroath) to Ethie Charleton and Kinnaber Haven – most of this is covered Links to Montrose is Firth of Tay & Eden Estuary SAC by Whiting Ness to Ethie Haven included within the St Cyrus 15,412.53 hectares SSSI – 136.17 hectares & Kinnaber Links SSSI Firth of Tay & Eden Estuary Rickle Craig (at the north end The Arbroath to Broughty Ramsar 6,918.42 hectares of Lunan Bay) to Scurdie Ness Ferry area includes Elliot Inner Tay Estuary SSSI (just south of Montrose at Links SSSI, Easthaven SSSI 4,115.38 hectares Ferryden) which is all (designated for Greater designated as an SSSI. – 72.17 yellow rattle), Barry Links Inner Tay LNR 1,176 hectares hectares SSSI and Bay SSSI Montrose Basin SPA, Ramsar, SSSI, LNR approx. 986 hectares Barry Links is also notified as an SAC and the Firth of Tay & St Cyrus and Kinnaber Links Eden Estuary SAC/SPA/Ramsar SSSI 304.91 hectares

Lunan Water Elliot Links SSSI 27.1 hectares

Pitairlie Burn Buddon Burn

Barry Links SSSI 1027.51 hectares

Monifieth Bay SSSI 199.23 hectares Carlinheugh © VisitScotland

Key Species • Wintering waterbirds, including Pink-footed and Greylag geese • Cetaceans • Maritime plants, including Zostera spp. • Breeding seabirds • Coastal invertebrates

Eider duck © John Crichton

38 Since recording began in 2011 sightings from Angus Cetacean members of the Angus community have included Bottlenose dolphins, Minke whale, Harbour Awareness Project porpoise, Common dolphin and even Humpback whales have occurred at many locations along the The cetacean survey incorporating the coast from coastline of Angus. All sightings are fed into the Tay to St Cyrus continues to focus on the national recording schemes and help to conserve collection of anecdotal sightings data from the species and habitats. Angus community, awareness raising and the promotion of coastal locations in Angus. The website www.marinelifeangus.co.uk was launched on the International Day of Biodiversity (May 2012) and is promoted by small business card size cards and a colourful poster. These are distributed to a wide range of visitor attractions along the Angus and Aberdeenshire coasts. The website reaches a wide audience having been promoted by VisitScotland on their website and on the new Angus Ahead website.

Dolphin watching, © Kelly Ann Dempsey

Back From The Brink:

Using a local, collaborative approach to aid in the rescue of a vulnerable, fragmented Cupido minimus population in North East Scotland. Adult Small blue butterfly © Barry Prater

Butterflies are a species like many others that are species. Surveys have been carried out at locations vulnerable to 21st century anthropogenic threats along the coastline since the late 1970’s in a such as climate change, habitat destruction and generally sporadic manner. This has produced a unsympathetic land management practices. The wealth of data which has recently been revisited by UK has seen a decline in many species and our Butterfly Conservation and the Tayside smallest native species the Small Blue ( Cupido Biodiversity Partnership. Records of Small blue are minimus) has seen a great decline in numbers numerous whilst Kidney vetch data is not so. Since over recent years. Scotland holds some 2012 both organisations have worked together to strongholds for the butterfly but in recent times, facilitate annual surveys of both species along the they too have faced challenges that have led to the demise of populations. coastline. Historical survey materials and current Scottish Wildlife Trust and Scottish Natural The fragmentation of colonies has been identified Heritage survey data from Seaton Cliffs Local as the most limiting factor on population size Nature Reserve and St Cyrus National Nature followed by a decline in the favoured plant host Reserve respectively, have been used as a starting Kidney vetch (Anthyllis vulneraria). point for where to focus survey effort. Angus has suffered the same declines as the rest of Investigation will hopefully lead to the discovery of the UK but still has pockets of populations of both extant populations.

39 Ecosystem Pressures Services & Erosion Ecosystem Scale Unless artificially constrained, warmer and more acidic, Projects seaward dune edges can be affecting the health and highly mobile. Few dune distribution of species and Ecosystem Services systems are in overall species interactions. • Coastal protection from equilibrium and generally the Recreation floods and storm surges Tayside coast demonstrates net The coast and its sand dune • Climate regulation erosion. Limited natural systems offers easy access by • Biomass storage erosion helps regenerate dune local residents and visitors and systems, but the survival of the • Photosynthesis and oxygen provides opportunities to biological interest and the production watch wildlife, pursue outdoor actual structure may be at risk • Renewable energy sports such as golf, or simply if it increases excessively. • Water quality regulation walk, contemplate and seek • Seafood Development inspiration. However, such a & Sea defences major land use causes damage • Recreation and leisure Pressure, especially on the to vegetation, exposes the • Health and wellbeing older dune systems, continues underlying sand to the wind • Tourism with further developments and rain and results in the loss proposed leading to the of vegetation and sand. Ecosystem Scale Projects destruction of this habitat. Rehabilitation of such areas Angus Maritime Plant projects Many dune links are now golf can be carried out, but it often – monitoring and restoring sea courses where fertilisers, takes years for the natural pea and kidney vetch herbicides and irrigation are diversity to become re- populations. used for ‘improving’ the established. On our seas, vegetation. Car and caravan pressures can come from water Linking & Exploring Tayside’s parks widen access and sports such as boating, jet- Coastal Wildlife Sites – Marine increase trampling, fires and skiing and irresponsible Life Angus website and Nature disturbance. Many dune cetacean watching. on Track. systems are affected by coastal Grazing Treating invasive coastal defence works that arrest the Whilst continued grazing is species – Himalayan balsam at formation of new dune systems necessary to maintain the Montrose Basin NNR, Japanese and affect the dynamism of grassland and to prevent scrub rose and gorse at Elliot links dune systems. Offshore development, overgrazing can and intertidal species first pressures have increased and have damaging effects. defence monitoring. the installation of oil and gas Undergrazing is more platforms, marine turbines and widespread, allowing Beach cleans along the length supporting cable infrastructure vegetation to be invaded by of the Angus coastline. all have varying effects on the coarse grasses and scrub. coastal and marine Angus coastal butterfly projects environments. – Small blue and Grayling Other pressures include: surveying, monitoring and Climate change nutrient enrichment from habitat enhancement projects. Sea level rise and increased farmland and waste effluent, storms forecast as global marine pollution, bait digging, climates change may cause laying of cables and pipelines, foreshore steepening, thus the introduction of new or non- allowing increased wave attack native species, maintenance at the base of the dunes. dredging, shipping accidents, Marine invasive species may beam trawlers and scallop also find it easier to colonise dredgers, waste tipping. new areas. Higher carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere are making oceans

Shore Thing Survey © Kelly Ann Dempsey 40 Common terns at home on the artificial raft © SWT Montrose Basin Tern Raft Project

A raft was designed and built in 2008 at Montrose The raft aptly named ‘Maid of Sterna Stuff’ was Basin, the enclosed estuary of the River South Esk, installed on 5th June 2008 and moored in a intended to support breeding Arctic Terns in subsidiary channel of the River South Esk meaning the area. it floats on all tides to protect the nest site from land based predators. Though both Arctic and Locally, Arctic Terns had been known to breed on Common Terns prospected the nest site it was rooftops of businesses in Montrose town. ‘Urban’ quickly established that only Common Terns were terns developed an uneasy relationship with local nesting there and in subsequent years, only businesses as their territorial behaviour included Common Terns have approached the raft. dive-bombing workers and customers entering the The nesting effort on the raft has fluctuated greatly premises. The Scottish Wildlife Trust approached since 2008 with 2011 being the most successful local company, Glaxo Smith Kline, seeking funding year to date with 150 hatchlings. In 2012 and 2013 for a raft on the Local Nature Reserve intended to breeding was attempted and eggs observed provide an alternative nest site for Arctic Terns. however nests were thought to have flooded GSK provided £10,000 funding; a further £2,000 during the heavy continuous rainfall experienced. was received from SNH. Fledgling success varies year on year.

41 Coastal & Marine Actions Schedule Key for timescale Short: 1-3 yrs Medium: 4-6 yrs Long: 7-10 yrs Actions will be input into the UK Biodiversity Action System (UKBARS)where Lead Partners will be outlined Maintaining & Improving Habitats

Action Action breakdown Who takes the action Timescale

1 Restore maritime Kidney Vetch Angus Council Long plant species Survey Kidney vetch along the Angus Coast numbers and annually (and inland where appropriate). Scottish Natural Heritage genetic diversity Scotia Seeds where possible, by Use fixed point photography at identified sites to monitor plant number fluctuations. preventing decline, Tayside Biodiversity supplementary Carry out seed collection, growing on and Partnership planting and supplementary broadcast sowing and Landowners enhancing species planting at suitable sites. connectivity. Botanic Gardens Monitor land use regimes on identified sites encouraging favourable management Easthaven Together techniques. Community groups Sea Pea Project Identify historical or new sites for planting sea pea grown locally at Dundee Botanic gardens.

Monitor replanting and plant colonisation.

Greater Yellow Rattle Monitor coastal population and spread.

Carry out site works to improve habitat for plant spread particularly at Easthaven SSSI.

Support new projects which identify additional threatened species.

2 Promote the Ensure that TAYplan (Strategic Development Angus Council Long sustainable Plan), Angus Local Development Plan and development of the the Angus Shoreline Management Plan 2 in Scottish Natural Heritage partnership area Angus take into account the sustainable Tayside Biodiversity coastline through development of coastal units. Partnership increased policy integration. Promote Integrated Coastal Zone Tay Estuary Forum Management as a means of sustainably managing the coast in accordance with National Marine Plan.

Annually produce updates for Public Bodies Duty reporting.

Annually produce updates for Local Authority statutory biodiversity reporting against the 2020 Challenge.

42 Maintaining & Improving Habitats

Action Action breakdown Who takes the action Timescale

3 Endeavour to reduce Identify all areas of the Angus coastline Angus Council Long the direct pressures where regular beach cleans take place and on coastal and facilitate coordination of new activity at sites Scottish Natural Heritage marine biodiversity of limited action. Tayside Biodiversity by implementing Partnership litter reduction and Identify new projects to tackle littering at beach clean projects problem sites in line with Scotland’s Marine Voluntary Action Angus enabling the Litter Strategy. Friends of the Earth enhancement of Raise awareness of microplastic-type ecosystem health. pollution and the damage caused to marine Community groups and coastal environments and species by supporting projects such as the Great Community Councils Nurdle Hunt and Beat the Microbead Marine Conservation Campaign. Society Investigate the reduction of use of Chinese Marine Life Angus lanterns and organized balloon releases by awareness raising, supporting the "Don't Let FIDRA Go" campaign and appropriate policy implementation.

4 Support saltmarsh Maintain species richness found within the Scottish Wildlife Trust Long habitat different saltmarsh zones: upper, middle enhancement and and lower, including transition saltmarsh River South Esk species and habitats such as reedbed and swamp. Catchment Partnership showcase best Angus Council practice land Identify areas where grazing can be more management intense to create a sward attractive to Landowners and Land techniques. wintering and passage wildfowl and waders. Managers Montrose Basin: Source funding to install and maintain fencing in the areas being encroached with juncus to secure grazing livestock.

43 Maintaining & Improving Habitats

Action Action breakdown Who takes the action Timescale

5 Support sand dune Remove invasive plants such as gorse, Angus Council Long system restoration hawthorn, sycamore and rose species. projects and species Scottish Natural Heritage Explore options for fencing to protect management Dundee Botanic Gardens programmes. sensitive habitats from disturbance. Elliot Links SSSI – encourage better Tayside Biodiversity conditions for Sea pea (Lathyrus japonicus) Partnership reintroduction. Ministry of Defence

Consider planting of Kidney vetch as part of Angus County Golf a wider Kidney vetch connectivity project. Association

Promote and develop other demonstration Scottish Golf sites for the restoration of dune vegetation, particularly in areas which are experiencing human-induced pressures.

Encourage additional conservation and enhancement measures that support the natural heritage importance of Barry Buddon, taking into consideration the MoD operations.

Encourage golf course management polices and practice which take into consideration the flora and fauna of sand dune systems.

6 Support and Identify and promote “cross-boundary” Scottish Environment Medium encourage opportunities, such as joining up path, Protection Agency collaborative habitat and other network elements regional working for between local authorities, Biodiversity Tayside Biodiversity both green networks Partnerships and other geographically based Partnership and blue spaces (i.e. organisations. Scottish Natural Heritage watercourses, coasts and wetlands). Share and promote good practice to other Angus Council land users and in collaborative working between partners. Perth & Kinross Council

Help co-ordinate regional scale projects, Cairngorms National surveys, etc. and advise on funding. Park Authority

Encourage sustainable grazing on cliff and Forestry Commission slope SSSIs and other coastal grazing areas Scotland as appropriate. Scottish Government Work with a wide range of partners in Rural Payments & supporting integrated coastal management Inspections Directorate and marine planning. Tay Estuary Forum Act as an informal network to highlight projects being developed and create Landowners and land opportunities of scale and collaboration. managers North East Green Network

44 Surveying & Monitoring

Action Action breakdown Who takes the action Timescale

7 Investigate the Generate records of marine wildlife by Tayside Biodiversity Long effects of climate facilitating intertidal Shore Thing biological Partnership change on the surveys at sites around the Angus Coast. movement of Angus Council Raise awareness of marine species and marine invasive Scottish Wildlife Trust intertidal species conservation amongst the wider through regular community. Marine Biological surveying and Association monitoring. Marine Life Angus

8 Investigate cetacean Generate sightings records through Tayside Biodiversity Long spatial and temporal targeted media such the Angus Cetacean Partnership distribution patterns Awareness Project and the website in Angus waters. www.marinelifeangus.co.uk. Scottish Wildlife Trust Analyse sightings data submitted to website. Scottish Natural Heritage Promote the availability of data and Marine Life Angus disseminate to relevant organisations.

9 Support tern Review the Tayside Terns Information & Tayside Biodiversity Long populations and Code of Practice leaflet; feature it on Partnership encourage appropriate websites and create a poster for appropriate site distribution. Scottish Wildlife Trust management. Review the existing nesting sites, including Scottish Natural Heritage the tern raft at Montrose Basin and advise on additional safeguarding of the sites, if Marine Life Angus appropriate, e.g. signage to reduce human and dog disturbance. Review inappropriate nesting sites such as industrial site roof-tops and advise on management.

10 Support projects Undertake annual Beached Bird Survey Royal Society for the Long and surveys that along the Angus coast. Protection of Birds provide an understanding of coastal bird ecology.

11 Survey and monitor Small Blue Butterfly Conservation Long threatened coastal Collect annual survey data for Small blue Scotland butterfly sightings along the Angus coast and inland populations. where appropriate. Tayside Biodiversity Partnership Verify data regularly to develop a management and monitoring strategy. Angus Council

Investigate the potential improvement of Angus County Golf connectivity of populations along the coast Association and experiment with broadcast Kidney vetch seed and planting of established pot- Landowners and land grown Kidney vetch plants at specified sites managers (with the landowners' permission). Community groups Expand the project to inland Angus, in particular potential disused railway sites Dundee Naturalist's and quarries. Society

45 Surveying & Monitoring

Action Action breakdown Who takes the action Timescale

Grayling Collect annual survey data for grayling sightings along the Angus coast. Verify data regularly to develop a management and monitoring strategy.

12 Survey and monitor Montrose Basin LNR Scottish Wildlife Trust Long breeding Eider Collect bi-annual survey data for breeding Angus Council populations. Eider populations on the Montrose Basin Local Nature Reserve. Analyse collected data bi-annually and investigate any changes in trends. Investigate the possibility of improving the habitat for the breeding population including the introduction of artificial shelters. Humanely control predators at the breeding site including foxes, mink and crows to a sustainable level. Maintain a minimum level of human disturbance at the breeding site.

13 Develop fixed point Monitor Kidney vetch density at chosen sites Tayside Biodiversity Long photography to understand the variability of plant Partnership investigation to numbers annually. Angus Council explore habitat and Identify partners using fixed point Tay Estuary Forum species change. photography to monitor erosion at Landowners and land coastal sites. managers University of Dundee

14 Support a Tay Set up a citizen science survey project to Dundee Naturalists Long Reedbed study the wide invertebrate interest in the Society Invertebrates Study. Tay reedbeds. Buglife Scotland

15 Build on a baseline Identify further survey effort required, Tay Salmon Fisheries Long study of Sparling, particularly looking at population density Company also known as and spawning. Also, investigate potential Scottish Natural Heritage European Smelt impact of climate change. Landowners and land (Osmerus eperlanus) Source funding for further survey work. managers undertaken in 2009 Consider conservation targets for the to identify and map species to ensure the survival of the spawning sites on population on the Tay in to the future. the Tay. Potentially source further funding to support conservation targets.

16 Support and Encourage community participation in Tayside Biodiversity Medium promote intertidal citizen science projects along the Tayside Partnership species monitoring coast e.g. Capturing our Coast. Scottish Association for projects. Marine Science Marine Life Angus Community groups

46 Education & Awareness Raising

Action Action breakdown Who takes the action Timescale

17 Increase awareness Promote the website Marine Life Angus Long of cetaceans in www.marinelifeangus.co.uk and the Angus Angus waters and Cetacean Awareness Project, a dedicated Tayside Biodiversity facilitate project where community sightings of Partnership community cetaceans in Angus waters can be submitted Community groups participation in data to a central database. recording. Seawatch Foundaton Focus on awareness raising through local and national press, specialist publications and events.

Develop web and social media presence focussing on the media used by local communities and tourists e.g. VisitScotland and Angus Ahead websites.

18 Raise awareness of Small Blue Butterfly Conservation Long endangered coastal Provide survey training for recorders and Scotland butterflies and volunteers for Small blue and other coastal encourage butterflies where appropriate. Tayside Biodiversity community Partnership Produce and reprint postcards and posters participation in Angus Council conservation. to raise awareness of the ongoing project. Expand the project to include the North East Landowners and land Biodiversity Partnership area - especially St managers Cyrus NNR. Community groups Annually prepare and circulate updates on survey work, publicity and volunteers.

19 Encourage school Facilitate a "Keep the Sea Free of Debris!" Tayside Biodiversity Long age participation in Art Contest as a regular competition for Partnership projects relating to schools to tie into curriculum projects marine and coastal highlighting the impacts of marine debris Angus Council issues. and how to minimise it. Scottish Wildlife Trust

Raise marine debris awareness year-round Butterfly Conservation by developing a Marine Debris Calendar Scotland using contestant entries. Marine Conservation Promote Scottish Wildlife Trust educational Society activities at Montrose Basin Wildlife Centre. Marine Life Angus Encourage reporting to surveying schemes such as the Angus Cetacean Awareness Project, Small Blue project, Shore Thing, Marine Conservation Society projects, WeBS etc.

47 Education & Awareness Raising

Action Action breakdown Who takes the action Timescale

20 Promote local Maintain an up to date database of local Tayside Biodiversity Medium recorders, clubs and recorders and specialist clubs. Partnership biodiversity open days. Utilise the skills of local recorders and clubs Tayside Recorders' to target specific projects including local Forum BioBlitzes. Scottish Wildlife Trust Encourage local open days and promote to the partnerships extended network. Butterfly Conservation Scotland Research the possibility of setting up a Seashore Project based on the success of the Scottish Natural Heritage Highland Seashore project - raising Marine Life Angus awareness of our marine and seashore wildlife. Marine Conservation Society Investigate the potential to set up an Angus Coastal Festival with a wide range of partners to raise awareness of coastal issues and encourage citizen science surveys.

21 Encourage Promote The Scottish Marine Wildlife Tayside Biodiversity Long responsible Watching Code through social media and Partnership interactions when publications. encountering Angus Council Investigate the Dolphin Space Programme marine and coastal Scottish Natural Heritage wildlife minimising being rolled out to Tayside boat trip disturbance providers. Marine Conservation potential. Society

Taymara

22 Raise awareness of Report twice yearly to community planning Tayside Biodiversity Long marine and coastal thematic partnerships on project Partnership issues to Local contributions to local and national Single Authorities, Outcome Agreement objectives. Angus Council Community Perth & Kinross Council Planning Partners Regularly provide biodiversity seminars and and the wider workshops to local authority staff on Marine Conservation stakeholder relevant legislation and good practice. Society network. Use social media and targeted websites to promote marine and coastal issues to as wide an audience as possible.

23 East Scotland Sea Engage schools in East Scotland with the Royal Society for the Short Eagle Education story of the Sea Eagle reintroduction Protection of Birds Project. through a series of tailored outreach programmes.

48 Invasive Non-Native Species

Action Action breakdown Who takes the action Timescale

24 Endeavour to reduce Facilitate the production of a map of the Angus Council Long the direct pressures coast highlighting key areas threatened by on coastal and invasive non-native species. Scottish Wildlife Trust marine biodiversity Limit the spread of the invasive non-native Tayside Biodiversity and ecosystem Partnership health from invasive species such as Himalayan balsam, Giant non-native species. hogweed and American Mink at coastal sites Voluntary Action Angus e.g. Montrose basin LNR. Scottish Natural Heritage Raise awareness of invasive non-native species and demonstrate the impact that River South Esk can be achieved by labour intensive control. Catchment Partnership

Facilitate work party days with volunteer Scottish Mink Initiative input to carry out control. Esk Rivers and Fisheries Showcase good practice control effort e.g. Trust controlled re-growth at SWT Montrose Basin control project.

49