Scottish Seabird Centre

Susan Davies, CEO of the Scottish Seabird Centre, responds to the publication of Scottish Government’s framework delivery plan (2024-2030) for biodiversity

We welcome the publication of the Scottish Government’s framework delivery plan (2024-2030) for biodiversity today (27/11/2024) and the recognition of the need for ‘nature’ to be at the heart of all Government approaches and decisions. The framework recognises that seabirds alongside marine mammals and elasmobranchs (sharks, skates and rays) are the top three globally threatened marine species groups and need action to reduce the pressures on these.

The framework restates the commitment to introduce statutory targets for nature restoration through the passage of the Natural Environment Bill. The plans priority actions include important commitments for large scale restoration, but these must recognise the inter-dependency between activities that take place on land and which impact our seas; the importance of removal of invasive non-native species at scale; adaptive coastal management in response to climate change pressures; and further steps to reduce the pressures from bottom trawling fisheries in marine protected areas or which impact priority marine features. All of these require better regulation, compliance monitoring and financial investment to make a positive difference at the pace and with the urgency that is required. The commitments to continue to build public-private finance to support the implementation of the actions is welcomed through initiatives such as the Scottish Marine Environmental Enhancement Fund.

We are pleased to see that the need to embed biodiversity and nature in the Scottish school curriculum and to support initiatives which help to widen public awareness about the importance and value of nature is acknowledged. It is important that these actions help to ignite further action to halt the loss of nature and to support its recovery by all parts of society. The role of the third sector in supporting this through informal education also needs to be a fundamental part of the overall approach that is taken.

We look forward to working with the lead partners identified in the framework for delivery to make real and lasting progress with the implementation of the plan priorities.

Susan Davies CEO, Scottish Seabird Centre