Visitors banned from 23 Scots islands in bid to stop spread of bird flu

dailyrecord.co.uk:

In a bid to stop the spread of bird flu in Scotland, conservationists have banned visitors from 23 islands. Public landings have been stopped on the islands until seabird chicks have fledged to give them the best possible chance to survive and recover from the current outbreak.

Figures from DEFRA state there are currently 537 cases of bird flu among 28 species over 142 locations in Scotland. The move comes in a bid to protect breeding puffins, Arctic skuas, Arctic terns, cormorants and gannets from the disease.Seabird colonies at Noss, Hermaness, Hoy, St Kilda, Troup Head, Handa, Bass Rock and St Abbs have all been badly affected.Experts said great skuas, gannets and guillemots have been hardest hit.

Sample surveys of colonies show up to an 85 per cent decline of great skua at colonies in Orkney and up to 25 per cent decline in gannet numbers at Shetland colonies.

Great black-backed gull, herring gull, kittiwake, Arctic tern, Sandwich tern, razorbill and puffin have also tested positive.Islands in Orkney, the Firth of Forth, Shetland, Argyll and the Highlands have been told to stop public landing as of this week - with some restrictions last until the end of October.Visitors will still be able to see the seabirds by taking boat trips to colonies without coming ashore, or by viewing them from a safe distance without entering nesting areas.NatureScot said the situation will be under constant review and restrictions will be lifted as soon as possible, once the birds have finished breeding.Experts carried out rapid assessments of all island Special Protection Areas (SPAs) designated for breeding seabirds, in consultation with island managers.Commercial boat operators have been alerted of the restrictions.Eileen Stuart,