New protections unveiled to aid threatened seabirds

NEW PROTECTIONS for the breeding and feeding grounds of tens of thousands of threatened seabirds are being announced by the Government.

Seabirds including little and common terns, avocets, ruffs and migratory knots could benefit from new and extended special protected areas (SPA) in the Solent and near Middlesbrough.

The conservation areas aim to protect rare and vulnerable seabirds from human activity, such as fishing or recreation.

Environment minister Rebecca Pow is also announcing plans for a seabird conservation strategy which will assess the vulnerability of each species in the light of pressures they face and propose actions to address them.

A new Solent and Dorset Coast special protection area will cover more than 891 square kilometres (344 square miles), an area equivalent to more than 125,000 football pitches.

It aims to protect almost 1,000 pairs of three species of tern, as the area is the fifth most important foraging site in the UK for little terns and the seventh most important for common terns during the breeding season.

The Teesmouth and Cleveland Coast SPA is being extended by 109 square kilometres (42 square miles), bringing the total size of the protected area to more than 122 square kilometres (47 square miles). The Environment Department said with the extension in place, more than 35,000 birds including avocets, ruffs and knots will be protected.

The new and extended areas join 47 existing sites in English waters.

Ms Pow said: “As the devastating impacts of climate change are only too visible, it is vital that we take decisive steps now that make a real difference to help protect our wildlife and allow vulnerable species to recover.”