New figures suggest dive in seabirds is levelling out

● Numbers have halved in 30 years ● Polls show early sign of recovery

New surveys show a ray of hope for Scotland’s globally important seabird colonies, which have been in freefall in recent years.

The latest figures suggest ongoing dramatic declines in many species have slowed in the past four years and numbers may have stabilised.

Around a third of all the European Union’s seabirds have their breeding grounds in Scotland.

But results from the Ukwide seabird monitoring programme show populations have crashed to half the size they were when the scheme began in 1986, with current numbers estimated at five million.

The most drastic declines have been recorded since the early 1990s.

However, statistics from the latest biodiversity indicator for seabirds, published by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), point to early signs of recovery.

The number of chicks produced last year was higher than the long-term average for half of the 12 species assessed – arctic skua, black-legged kittiwake, common tern, common guillemot, northern gannet and sandwich tern.

Conversely,breedingsuccess was below average for three species, including the herring gull, and around average for the arctic tern, puffin and great skua.

Arctic skuas have suffered the most severe losses, with numbers down 76 per cent over the past three decades.

SNH has described the 2015 statistics as “encouraging”.

But conservationists have urged caution over the counts, which they fear may not reflect an accurate picture of the health of seabird populations.

Alex Kinninmonth, head of marine policy at RSPB Scotland, said: “Although the latest seabird biodiversity indicator report provides welcome news on some species in 2015, it’s little more than a glimmer of hope against a backdrop of severe declines for many of Scotland’s seabirds.

“We know, for example, that numbers of kittiwakes have declined by up to 90 per cent at historic strongholds on Orkney and St Kilda and reversing these downward trends will require a concerted and sustained effort on many fronts.”

Seabirds are considered important indicators for assessing the state of the marine environment, since populations respond to fac-

0 A pair of great skuas ambush a gannet to steal a meal of mackerel tors such as food availability, climate and pollution.

Simon Foster, trends analyst for SNH, said: “Our seas and marine wildlife are a unique and exciting part of nature and they attract many thousands of people to visit Scotland every year. This latest indicator shows the importance of continued long-term monitoring in helping understand what is happening to our seabird populations.”