The bulletins by the UK and the Scottish Governments that industrial sandeel fishing will not be permitted in English and Scottish waters is a vital step in the direction of safeguarding seabird populations and rebuilding the resilience of the North Sea ecosystem.
Regardless of their small dimension, sandeels are extremely nutritious and a a lot sought-after meal. Iconic seabirds such because the Black-legged kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla), the Atlantic puffin (Fratercula arctica), and the Frequent guillemot (Uria aalge), marine mammals such because the Minke whale, the Harbour porpoise, and the Harbour seal, and even sure business fish species resembling cod and haddock, all depend on this helpful fish.
This measure comes at a important time. OSPAR’s authoritative Quality Status Report, launched in the direction of the top of 2023, highlighted the poor state of seabird populations throughout the North East Atlantic. [1] Seabirds that feed close to the floor are faring worse, with local weather change and fishing primarily accountable for lowering the supply of meals.
Puffin, copyright Glyn Sellors, from the surfbirds galleries
Vessels fishing for sandeel within the North Sea goal the identical areas utilized by breeding seabirds, creating direct competitors that makes it tougher for these birds to seek out enough meals to help themselves and to boost their rising chicks. The competitors for meals additionally makes these seabird populations much less in a position to deal with the myriad of different pressures to which they’re uncovered resembling local weather change, offshore renewable enlargement, and avian flu.
Latest scientific recommendation recognised that the yearly set sandeel quotas within the North Sea can’t make sure that sufficient fish stays out there for marine species that depend upon them. It highlighted the necessity for nationwide administration measures, noting particularly the wants of breeding seabirds which depend upon meals availability inside proximity to their breeding colonies. Furthermore, OSPAR Contracting Events, together with the EU, have dedicated to take pressing motion to halt the decline of seabirds throughout the North East Atlantic within the present OSPAR Technique. [2]
The UK’s progressive motion to safe seabird’s meals supply is a crucial contribution to this finish and it’s incumbent on the EU and its Member States to help this. As seabirds know no borders, additionally it is important that the EU and its Member States implement the required complementary measures inside their very own waters.
[1] OSPAR is a global conference via which 15 Governments & the EU cooperate to guard the marine atmosphere of the North-East Atlantic.
[2] North-East Atlantic Setting Technique (NEAES) 2030 (out there at https://www.ospar.org/documents?v=46337)
