Extra time for views on marine bird protection areas

The 12-week formal consultation, which closed at midnight on Monday (26 September), has now been reopened with a new deadline of midnight this coming Monday 3 October.

SNH decided to reopen the consultation for everyone, following requests from individuals and organisations to make submissions after the closing date. SNH is managing the consultation on behalf of Scottish Government, inviting comments on a suite of 10 proposed Special Protection Areas (pSPAs).

Emma Philip, who is managing the consultation for SNH, said: “We’ve had an excellent response to this consultation with several hundred people submitting responses. However, we really do want to hear as many people’s views as possible and we’ve had a number of calls asking if we will still accept responses.

“We think it is much fairer to re-open the consultation giving everyone extra time to take part, rather than agreeing individual extensions. I would encourage anyone with an interest in our magnificent marine birds and the future management of these important areas to share their views before the consultation ends on Monday.”

The pSPAs are spread around Scotland’s coast at locations including the Moray Firth, Orkney, Shetland and the Hebrides. The proposals are designed to help a wide range of marine bird species by protecting their important areas, such as foraging grounds and places where they roost, preen and moult.

Scotland’s rich variety of marine birds attracts many thousands of visitors each year, providing crucial income and helping to support hundreds of jobs in the tourism sector, often in remote areas. Species set to benefit from the proposals include Sandwich and little terns, black-throated, great northern and red-throated divers, Slavonian grebe, velvet scoter, red-breasted merganser and European shag.

If the sites are designated they will form part of Scotland’s network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), which covers approximately 20% of our seas. Developing a network of well-managed MPAs is one way the Scottish Government aims to meet its 2020 Biodiversity Challenge outcome of ‘clean, healthy, safe, productive and biologically diverse’ coasts and seas.

As part of the consultation, SNH organised a series of 17 drop-in information events at coastal locations around the country, giving local people the opportunity to find out more about the birds in their area and to discuss the proposals.

Emma said: “It was a real pleasure at our drop-in events to meet so many people with a keen interest in their local marine environment and the birds that spend key stages of their life cycle sharing our seas. It was a great opportunity for everyone to discuss the proposals in their area and to clarify the management options, which is one of the things we are seeking people’s views on.

“With almost 12,000km of coastline and 800 islands, Scotland is an ideal place for marine birds. It is important that we protect these areas for the birds, ensuring that they remain a unique and exciting part of our nature to be enjoyed by many generations to come.”

The consultation gives people the opportunity to share their views on each of the proposed designations: on topics such as the featured bird species, the scientific evidence and options for site management. For detailed information about the proposals, and to respond to the consultation, visit www.snh.gov.uk/marinebirdSPAs .