Action urged over seabird feeding zones

Although seabirds at Bempton Cliffs and Flamborough Head are safeguarded under European law, the areas they depend on for their survival are not.

Staff at the RSPB reserve at Bempton recorded a 15 per cent decline in productivity for fulmars last year, while the average number of fledged kittiwakes per nest dropped by almost a quarter.

The RSPB says the figures are concerning as nationally there has been a 40 per cent decline in both kittiwake and fulmar populations in the past decade.

Other species like razorbills had an excellent season with the average number of fledged young up almost a fifth from last year.

It was also a successful year for guillemots, with productivity increasing nearly a tenth.

The Government is creating a network of marine protected sites – called Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs) – around the English and Welsh coast.

However at the moment the policy guidance doesn’t include “mobile species” like seabirds or marine mammals such as basking sharks.

Because of this a vast area stretching out to sea from Flamborough to Helgoland – a small island off the German coast – which is a vital foraging area for nearly a quarter of million birds at Bempton isn’t being considered as a MCZ.

Clare Reed, from the RSPB, said: “When a fulmar or a kittiwake is out at sea the risk of mortality can be pretty high, especially with certain types of fishing practices.

“We are asking for them to be protected out at sea, not just on land.”

Ms Reed said they weren’t looking to ban fishing, but were seeking changes in practice – such has had been successfully achieved in the Southern Ocean, where weighted hooks have been used by longline fishermen to avoid snagging albatrosses.

The measure had reduced deaths “by about 95 per cent”.

Kittiwakes can take up to four hours to fly to Dogger Bank, 90 miles out at sea, for sand eels and sprats.

“They have protection while they are on land, but while they are out at sea and spending vast amounts of time at sea, they are not offering any protection at all,” said Ms Reed.

The RSPB is asking people to sign up to the petition at www.rspb.org.uk/marinepetition.

Marine conservation officer for the North East and Yorkshire Helen Quayle said: “We need MCZs to deliver for seabirds so we are asking people who enjoy watching these amazing creatures to sign our marine pledge.

“The more signatures we can get, the more pressure we can put on the Government to help ensure that seabirds get the same level of protection at sea as they enjoy on land.”