All Puffed Up

GOOD NEWS FOR SEABIRDS AS SAND EEL FISHING TO CEASE IN NORTH SEA

The tide looks set to turn on threatened seabirds including Puffins, Kittiwakes Razorbills and others, which depend on sandeels for food, after decades of campaigning has finally succeeded in stopping industrial sandeel fishing in the English waters of the North Sea.

The news follows the results of a seabird census and a separate sandeel public consultation which were both undertaken last year. The UK is home to internationally important populations of seabirds but their numbers are plummeting. The census, undertaken by over 20 organisations, found more than half of the seabird species breeding on British and Irish coasts have declined over the last 20 years and around one in four Puffins have been lost from around the UK since 2000.

One of the main reasons is the vastly depleted sandeel populations, due to overfishing and climate change - the sandeel being the staple diet on which many seabirds, including Puffins feed their chicks. The RSPB and others have been challenging the practice for more than 25 years, after pointing out it's been one of the main reasons for our seabirds decline. Many backed their campaign to halt industrial fishing and the UK Government public consultation to close sandeel fisheries saw an overwhelming 95.5% voting in agreement.

Sandeels are tiny fish but are relied upon right through the marine foodchain from other fish such as haddock and whiting, through to mammals such as porpoises (they also makes up half of the diet of humpback and minke whales). Environment Secretary Steve Barclay said: "I can confirm that the UK government is permanently closing the sandeel fishery in the English waters of the North Sea, to improve the resilience of our seabird colonies and the wider marine environment on which they depend."

Welcoming the announcement, RSPB Chief Executive Beccy Speight said:

"The RSPB has long recommended an end to industrial sandeel fishing in UK waters to secure vital food sources for these amazing birds. It's a call that was backed by tens of thousands of our members and supporters, and demonstrates the huge public support for actions that drive nature's recovery. Halting wildlife decline and putting nature on the path to recovery must be supported by a programme of government action and there is clear public support for doing so."

Following the permanent closure of sandeel fisheries from April 2024, the birds will still face the challenges of bird flu and poorly planned offshore marine development, but this is a vitally important and necessary step which could help recover their populations. It's also hoped it will be repeated in Scotland, where an additional public consultation took place last year and the results are expected soon.

*The government also today announced new plans including further targeted restrictions on damaging bottom trawling on reef and rock habitats in 13 marine protected areas and a new framework for national parks and protected areas.