Island nature reserve to be closed to visitors over bird flu concerns

AFife nature reserve home to 80,000 puffins has banned visitors due to fears of a bird flu outbreak.

No members of the public will be allowed on the Isle of May, off the Forth River, from July 1.

Naturescot made the announcement yesterday, saying the decision was made to prevent visitors unknowingly spreading avian flu to the wildlife.

Unprecedented numbers of wild birds have been reported dead due to the virus in recent months.

The Isle of May is home to almost 300 species of seabird, including Arctic tern, puffins, razorbills, shags, guillemots and oystercatchers.

During the summer breeding months it becomes a popular tourist destination, with daily ferries taking visitors across to spot some of the 200,000 seabirds.

While ferries will still be allowed to take visitors on cruises around the island, they will be banned from letting anyone land from the start of next month.

It is not known how long the ban will be imposed.

So far, no cases have been recorded on the Isle of May.

Naturescot will also close Noss National Nature Reserve, located on the Shetland island of Bressay.

Eileen Stuart, Naturescot’s deputy director of nature and climate change, said: “The decision to close these reserves has not been taken lightly, but we are increasingly concerned about the devastating impact avian flu is having in Scotland, particularly on our seabird colonies.

“Our island reserves in particular are a haven for internationally important bird populations.”

She added: “The situation has been rapidly evolving and deteriorating, and we feel restricting access to these sites, and reducing it at others, is a precautionary but proportionate approach that gives us the best chance of reducing the spread of the virus and its impact.

“We recognise that this will be disappointing for those planning a visit but we hope people understand that this is about protecting our precious seabird populations for the future.

“Visitors will still be able to enjoy the summer seabird spectacle at both island reserves by taking round-island trips without coming ashore, and at other reserves by viewing from a short distance without crossing through colony areas. We will be keeping the situation under regular review over the coming weeks.”

Anstruther Pleasure Cruises offers trips to the island.

Owner Alec Gardner said: “I’m not surprised to hear about the decision. It’s going to have a massive impact on us. We do daily landing trips and we’re fully booked for the next few weeks. We’re still going to do round-the-island trips but I’m not sure whether our customers will be satisfied with that.”

How sad to see the Isle of May closed off to visitors during the peak summer period for fear of avian flu spreading to the bird colony.

But it is absolutely the right decision. Hundreds of birds have washed up dead on local beaches in recent weeks and containing that spread is vital.

The Isle of May is an internationally important bird breeding site, it must be protected if at all possible.

CONCERNS: Naturescot wants to protect the Isle of May, where bird species including the Arctic tern, below, have nested, from the risk of avian flu.