Protecting the puffins of Lundy Island

An Island in the Bristol Channel where cool northern currents meet warm southern waters creates a mix of thriving habitats, perfect for birds. Lundy Island is one of the biggest sites for seabirds in the South West, but they need your help. Please support our special seabirds campaign by contacting your MP and telling them how important Marine Conservation Zones are for our wonderful wildlife

The sight and sound of thousands of seabirds on Lundy testifies to the island’s importance. Around 15,000 nest on the island, and hundreds can often be seen forming huge rafts in the waters around the island, as they relax, preen themselves and generally loaf about, after feeding flights out to sea.

Lundy was England’s first marine conservation zone but, strangely, these vital waters are not included, leaving Lundy’s breeding seabirds vulnerable to disturbance at sea from recreational boats and fishing.

Puffins are among the species which would be better protected from extending the Marine Conservation Zone. Photo credit Andy Hay (RSPB Images)

RSPB senior conservation officer Helen Booker said: “Birds rely on the waters around their breeding colonies for these important functions of their day-to-day lives and marine conservation zones really should offer that protection.

“And at the moment they don’t give any protection to seabirds when they’re in their most important habitat.”

The RSPB is urging the waters around Lundy are protected to four kilometres offshore, as work begins on the third and final tranche of marine conservation zones in England, a commitment made by Government to protect our special sealife.

The number of seabirds breeding on Lundy have risen since the island was declared rat-free ten years ago; puffin numbers have grown from only five individual birds in 2006 to 300 now, Manx shearwater from 400 pairs to 3,400 pairs, while guillemot, razorbill and storm petrel are among the other seabirds doing well on the Bristol Channel island.

However populations may still be lower than they were 100 years ago and so extending the boundary of the existing zone is essential to make sure that Manx shearwater, puffin, common guillemot and razorbill get the protection they need at sea.

Lundy Island is home to 15,000 seabirds and the second largest breeding colony in the South West. Photo credit Robin Hickmott

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.
• Lundy Island has long been recognised as an area outstanding for wildlife, however the important sea areas for seabirds fall outside of this area. The Marine Conservation Zone should be extended seawards to make sure that birds such as Manx shearwater, puffin, common guillemot and razorbill are protected at every stage of their life in their essential sea habitat.
• 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.