Scottish seabird conservation - action plan: consultation

Scottish Seabird Conservation Action Plan

11 December 2024

Consultation on the Scottish Seabird Conservation Action Plan.

The recent seabird census and the ‘Birds of Conservation Concern 5’ report highlight that many of Scotland’s internationally important seabird populations are in trouble, and being impacted by a range of pressures, including climate change, and more recently highly pathogenic avian influenza.

Seabirds are vital to the marine ecosystem, and their decline signals broader environmental issues that affect livelihoods, food, and recreation. Co-ordinated action is therefore required to address seabird declines in Scotland.

While the Scottish Government can play an important role in instigating, facilitating opportunities and where appropriate implementing some of these actions, we cannot do this alone. Action requires a collective effort, partnership working and new, innovative, ambitious initiatives that we all have a role in.

This plan is a significant step forward in in meeting this ambition. It sets out where action is already being taken to address declines and identifies where more is required. This consultation therefore seeks your views on a range of actions that have been identified, and which will pave the way for future collaborative effort for seabird populations in Scotland.

Supporting documents

In addition to the action plan, there are two supporting documents that should be considered alongside the action plan.

• The Scottish Seabird Vulnerability Report: This report details the methods and findings of the vulnerability assessments used to identify the main marine and coastal pressures and threats acting on seabirds whilst at Scottish coastal breeding colonies and in Scottish waters. The report also identifies the human activities associated with the main pressures.
• Species Accounts: An account is available for each seabird species covered by the action plan. Each account provides summarised information on current knowledge of distribution, abundance and trends, and conservation status in Scottish and UK waters.

We are inviting your views on the Scottish Seabird Conservation Action Plan by 04 March 2025.