Guest blog by Kenny Bodles, RSPB NI Conservation Officer
With the recent summer sunshine, people have been flocking to the coast in their droves to enjoy the good weather and the wildlife that makes its home in our seas at this time of year.
If you’re lucky, you might see visiting tern species starting to breed in the safety of a coastal island or our largest sea duck, the eider, foraging in our coastal waters and sheltered bays. But sadly, far from the idyllic scene set by beautiful weather and stunning coastline, all is not well for many of our seabird species.
Common tern. Credit David Tipling (rspb-images.com)
Many, like the enigmatic manx shearwater, are in decline and efforts must be taken immediately to try and reverse this trend. But conserving any species, let alone highly mobile seabird species, can be extremely difficult.
The establishment and enforcement of Marine Protected Areas is one way to do this. A Marine Protected Area (MPA) is a way to set aside important areas as safe havens for threatened species. But they are often difficult to put in place and opportunities to make new designations are rare. However, in Northern Ireland, two major new MPAs called Special Protection Areas (SPAs) are currently being considered for designation in the near future.
SPAs are specifically designed to protect bird species and these two new proposals, if designated, will offer new and widespread protection for species such as sandwich and common tern, eider, manx shearwater, light-bellied brent geese and red throated diver.
Manx shearwater. Credit Chris Gomersall (rspb-images.com)
The two proposed areas - one in Carlingford Lough and one on the east coast of Northern Ireland, stretching from Larne Lough to Ardglass - will set aside vital habitat for these species and put measures in place to ensure these threatened species can recover and thrive around our coasts.
RSPB Northern Ireland is committed to giving seabirds a home around our coasts. We see the huge value of these new proposed Marine Protected Areas and fully support their designation. Wouldn’t it be amazing to be able to offer our most threatened seabirds safe haven around our coasts to recover and thrive once again? We believe it is possible and could mark a turning point for many of our most amazing seabirds.
We hope to hear good news on these designations in autumn 2016, so keep on this blog and our social media channels for some big announcements coming soon!