Seabirds: strategic ornithological compensatory measures: review

Footnotes

1 This report is a technical review commissioned by the Scottish Government and authored by RSPB scientists. While wider RSPB colleagues imputed expertise into relevant sections, they did not have an authoring nor editorial role. As a technical review it should not be read to imply policy positions of either the RSPB nor of the Scottish Government around any of the matters considered within.

2 See note at start of: Practical feasibility: Closure and management of forage fisheries (Sandeel, Herring, and Sprat)

3 Prior to the HPAI outbreak which was ongoing at the time of writing.

4 Eradication was initially successful but subsequent to this publication, rats recolonised Handa (see Handa Island Newsletter- 2019).

5 UK Bycatch Monitoring Programme (BMP). ‘Cetacean Bycatch Observation Scheme’ which includes summary indicators also for seabird and shark bycatch.

6 Note for Gannet the analysis of Miles et al. (2020) also included bycatch in gillnet fisheries.

7 Response from Gillian Martin (then Minister for Energy and the Environment) on 18 January 2024 to Question S6W-24369.

8 The Sixth meeting of the Specialised Committee on Fisheries on 27 June 2023 issued a joint request of the Parties to ICES to “provide further information on how ecosystem considerations, particularly predator-prey interactions and the rebuilding of sensitive higher trophic level species, and other ecosystems-based fisheries management aspects, are factored into to the provision of the single stock advice for forage fish species”.

9 This could be modelled on schemes implemented by wind farm developers for impacted communities, see Local Energy Scotland and Shetland Community Benefit Fund for an example of such a fund.

10 The steer from the project steering group was to include biosecurity as an integrated measures with predator removal or reduction measures rather than as a standalone measure (in terms of strategic compensation).

11 See e.g. Crook of Baldoon reserve, in South-west Scotland, an RSPB reserve, where this conservation action has recently been used to protect nesting waders (and other species including Black-headed Gull). The fencing is funded by the Scottish Marine Environmental Enhancement Fund (SMEEF).

12 Recently confirmed (2022) by a field study to support an assessment of the feasibility of eradication of Black Rat from Inchcolm Island. Berwick Bank Wind Farm (2023). Additional Information - Addendum to the Derogation Case - Berwick Bank Offshore Wind Farm - Firth of Forth. Section 6 - Incholm Feasibility Study.

13 RSPB are currently undertaking a review and analysis on the evidence around the impacts of mice on seabirds globally and in the UK (funded by RSPB and Natural England’s Action for Birds in England programme) which is due to report in 2024.

14 The original link was not working at the time of writing (November 2023), but the manual is available via the ‘Wayback Machine’ service from the Internet Archive (link provided in table).

15 Bycatch Management Information System. NB this is focussed on oceanic tuna and billfish fisheries but some techniques may be transferable.

16 At the time of final revisions to the report The Sandeel (Prohibition of Fishing) (Scotland) Order 2024 had recently been made.

17 For the management objectives of the national site network see regulation 16A of The Conservation of Habitats and Species (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019.

18 https://biosecurityforlife.org.uk