Help protect grebes in Cornwall

Carrick Roads is a section the River Fal is joined by many creeks and inlets, surrounded in many places by ancient woodland, much of which is a national nature reserve. A haven for wildlife, many seabirds live here, but one in particular needs your help. Please support our special seabirds campaign by asking your MP to help protect Carrick Roads.

This famous deep-water anchorage in West Cornwall is a magnet for wintering birds and although some species of seabirds at Carrick Roads are protected, this is not the case for the black-necked grebe.

These beautiful and rare grebes are drawn to Carrick Roads’ mild and tranquil waters, with one of the UK’s largest flocks a regular sight in winter.

The black-necked grebe, a striking visitor in the winter. Photo credit Frank Vassen (Flickr)

Paul St Pierre, RSPB conservation officer for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, said: “Currently the black-necked grebe gets no protection at all in the UK and this is one of its most important sites, it deserves the best protection we can give it.”

Creating a new Marine Conservation Zone specifically for the black-necked grebe is the best way to protect this stunning bird, along with other grebes, ducks and divers. They are particularly vulnerable to pollution and disturbance from recreational activities in the busy estuary. It is so important to protect them whilst in their winter habitat as a poor winter means that they struggle to breed the following year.

Although some species of seabird are already protected here, creating a Marine Conservation Zone would also help protect birds such as red-necked grebe, red-breasted merganser and the many other sea and water birds regularly found in Carrick Roads.

Carrick Roads shoreline. Photo credit Tim Green (Flickr)

How you can help

Please help by contacting your MP and asking them to write to Thérèse Coffey, Minister for Environment in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs about why the UK Government urgently needs to include this site in the public consultation.

Key points you might like to raise:

• Seabirds are in trouble. Numbers have dropped drastically since 2000 and without adequate protection and management they will struggle to recover.
• Marine Conservation Zones are important for seabirds to ensure that their important areas at sea are protected, just as their nesting areas are on land. These areas provide a safe haven where rare, declining or threatened species can be protected from harmful activity.
• Carrick Roads is an important site for the rare black-necked grebe but they are not currently protected here. Having a Marine Conservation Zone specifically for them is essential so that protection can be put into place to stop populations from plummeting in the UK.
• A healthy marine environment does more than support healthy seabird populations. We get food from the sea, and it provides fishing jobs for isolated communities around the coast. Tourism and recreation, which depend on clean seas and plenty of wildlife to watch, are also important in small communities as well as bringing in substantial economic benefits to local businesses.

You can find your MP and the various ways to contact them via the Write to Them website. Also, all MPs can be reached by writing to them at House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA.

Please send copies of your letters or e-mails, and any replies, to Vanessa Amaral-Rogers, Campaigning Communications Officer, RSPB, The Lodge, Sandy, Bedfordshire SG19 2BR. Alternatively you can email us.

Seabirds really need your help; and we can do it with the help of the UK government. Action is needed now if we want to start protecting our iconic seabirds.