Publication - Progress report

Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994 (as amended) - Regulation 3ZA: implementation report 2019 to 2024

Published: 30 January 2026
Directorate: Environment and Forestry Directorate
Topic: Environment and climate change
ISBN: 9781806436545

Overview of the implementation of measures taken in Scotland to meet the provisions of the Birds and and Habitats Directives, and to achieve the objectives of those Directives between 2019 and 2024.

Supporting documents

References

Assessing benefits and services provided by European Sites

Andersen, R., Fernandez-Garcia, P., Martin-Walker, A., Klein, D., Marshall, C., Large, D.J., Hughes, R., & Hancock, M.H. 2024. Blanket bog vegetation response to wildfire and drainage suggests resilience to low severity, infrequent burning. Fire Ecology, 20(1), Article 26.

Evans, C.D., Peacock, M., Baird, A.J., Artz, R.R.E., Burden, A., Callaghan, N.,Chapman, P.J., Cooper, H.M., Coyle, M., Craig, E., Cumming, A., Dixon, S., Gauci, V.,Grayson, R.P., Helfter, C., Heppell, C.M., Holden, J., Jones, D.L., Kaduk, J., et al. 2021. Overriding water table control on managed peatland greenhouse gas emissions. Nature, 593(7860), 548–552.

Positive changes in public acceptance towards biodiversity protection

McGregor, D. & Strachan, V. 2024. NatureScot opinion survey 2023. NatureScot Research Report 1357

Increased availability of information

Alma Economics and Miller, D. 2025. Understanding the need and value of land cover and habitat data. NatureScot Research Report 1382

Black, S., Hassall, I., Hecker, L., Mason, F., Robinson, P., Lightfoot, P., Vigano, P.& Blake, D. 2023. A landscape monitoring and change detection tool for protected areas – towards operationalising the use of Sentinel data in Scotland. JNCC Report 730

JNCC, DAERA, NatureScot, NE, NRW (2026). Habitats Regulations Reporting 2019-2024: Approach Document. Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Peterborough.

Scobie, A. 2018. Habitat Map of Scotland Upland Mapping Pilot: developing a method to map upland habitats using stereo colour near-infrared aerial imagery. Scottish Natural Heritage Research Report 983

European site research and survey

Cosgrove, P., Massey, K., Shields, D., Picton, J., Cosgrove, C., Towers, M. & Tree, A. 2024. Site Condition Monitoring of freshwater pearl mussel in the River Dee 2022–2023. NatureScot/CNPA Research Report 1353

Heaton, S.A. 2022. Ardvar Woodlands SSSI/ SAC Herbivore Impact Assessment 2021. NatureScot Research Report 1282

Peatland action

Haycock, G. & Cashon, C. 2022. Monitoring the success of Peatland Action: Repeat vegetation surveys to assess change in habitat condition at peatlands restored in 2014 and 2015. NatureScot Research Report 1301

Large, D.J., Bradley, A.V., Mitchell, E., Fallaize, C., Dryden, I., Andersen, R. & Marshall, C. 2025. Application of surface motion remote sensing to quantify the condition and trajectory of change of c.680,000 ha of peatland. NatureScot Research Report 1356

Ross, S. & Blackshaw, A. 2022. Monitoring the success of Peatland Action – establishing a baseline condition for vegetation. NatureScot Research Report 1278

Research and SAC/MPA monitoring documents for Marine Habitats

Allen, J.H. 2017. Infaunal and PSA analyses of benthic samples collected from around the Isle of Arran, Loch Fyne and Orkney in July and August 2015. Scottish Natural Heritage Commissioned Report 945.

Allen, J.H. 2018. Infaunal and PSA analyses of benthic samples collected from the South of Skye, Southannan Sands SSSI and Mousa SAC / MPA in 2016. Scottish Natural Heritage Commissioned Report 1037.

Allen, J.H. 2019. Infaunal and PSA analyses of benthic samples collected from Loch Carron, Wester Ross, Moray Firth and the Sound of Barra in 2017. Scottish Natural Heritage Research Report 1042.

Allen, J.H. & Kent, F.E.A. 2021. Infaunal and PSA analyses of benthic samples collected from the Sound of Barra in 2018. NatureScot Research Report 1270.

Angus, S. (2016). Monitoring and surveillance of a highly variable habitat: The challenge posed by Scottish saline lagoons. Regional Studies in Marine Science, 8(1) 20-26.

Angus, S. (2017). Scottish saline lagoons: Impacts and challenges of climate change. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science,198, 626-635

Clarke, L.J., Esteves, L.S., Stillman, R.A. & Herbert, R.J.H. (2018). Impacts of a novel shellfishing gear on macrobenthos in a marine protected area: pump-scoop dredging in Poole Harbour, UK. Aquatic Living Resources, 31, 5

Cunningham, C. & Hunt, C. (2023). Scottish Blue Carbon - a literature review of the current evidence for Scotland’s blue carbon habitats. NatureScot Research Report 1326

Doggett, M., Morris-Webb, L. & Baldock, L. 2024. Time series analysis to determine change in maerl beds. NatureScot Research Report 1275

Duncombe-Smith, S.W., Worsfold, T.M., Brackenreed-Johnston, G.H., Pears, S.A., Hicks, D.M., Tamkin, A.L., Pye, S.E., Ware, F.J. & Whyte, K.F. 2018. Uist Lagoons Survey 2016. Scottish Natural Heritage Research Report 1050.

Foster, R. & Huxham, M. 2020. Intertidal seagrass. In: Moffat, C., Baxter, J., Berx, B., Bosley, K., Boulcott, P., Cox, M., Cruickshank, L., Gillham, K., Haynes, V., Roberts, A., Vaughan, D. & Webster, L. (Eds.). (2020). Scotland's Marine Assessment 2020. Scottish Government.

Hansom, J.D., Fitton, J.M., & Rennie, A.F. 2017. Dynamic Coast – National Coastal Change Assessment: National Overview, CRW2014/2

Harries, D. 2023. Loch Carron dredge track survey 2021 – interim report. Unpublished Report to NatureScot.

Harries, D.B., Moore, C.G., Cook, R.L. & Brash, J. 2015. 2014 site check survey and biotope mapping of the intertidal sediment flats of the Loch Moidart and Shiel Woods SAC. Scottish Natural Heritage Commissioned Report 809

Harries, D.B., Moore, C.G., Cook, R.L., Kamphausen, L., Porter, J.S., Lyndon, A.R. & Pye, S.E. 2019. 2016 site condition monitoring of the rocky reefs and sea caves of Mousa SAC and survey of sedimentary habitats of the Mousa to Boddam MPA. Scottish Natural Heritage Research Report 1080.

Harries, D.B., Moore, C.G., Porter, J.S., Sanderson, W.G., Ware, F.J. & Kamphausen, L. 2018. The establishment of site condition monitoring of the sea caves of the St Kilda and North Rona Special Areas of Conservation with supplementary data from Loch Eriboll. Scottish Natural Heritage Commissioned Report 1044

Harries, D.B., Purcell, A., Moore, C.G., Lyndon A.R., Porter, J.S., Saunders, G.R. & Hume, C.L. 2024. Distribution mapping and baseline monitoring survey of sea caves around Fair Isle. NatureScot Research Report 1145.

MCCIP. 2018. Climate change and marine conservation: Saline Lagoons (Eds. Marsh M and Street M) MCCIP, Lowestoft, doi: 10.14465.2018.ccmco.004-slg

Mieszkowska, N., Burrows, M. & Sugden, H. 2020. Impacts of climate change on intertidal habitats relevant to the coastal and marine environment around the UK. MCCIP Science Review 2020, 256–271.

Marine Scotland 2017. Loch Carron Marine protected area seabed habitat survey. Annotated ‘screen grab’ images from diver video footage illustrating signs of recent scallop dredge disturbance to a flame shell bed. Marine Scotland.

MarineSpace Ltd. 2022. Biological analyses of underwater video from cruises carried out in 2018, 2019, and 2021 in Gigha, West Loch Tarbert, South Lewis and Harris (Outer Hebrides), Islay, Jura, Lorn, East of Arran, the Small Isles, East of Uist, and East of Barra. Unpublished NatureScot Research Report.

Miller, F., McCallum, S., White, A., Azzarello, J. & Caryl, F. 2017. Predictive mapping of seabed features within selected Special Areas of Conservation and Nature Conservation MPAs in Scottish territorial waters using available datasets. Scottish Natural Heritage Commissioned Report 980.

Moore, C.G. 2019. Biological analyses of underwater video from monitoring and research cruises in Lochs Ailort and Fyne, the Sounds of Barra and Mull, inner Moray Firth, off Wester Ross, Noss Head and Rattray Head, and around the Southern Trench in outer Moray Firth. Scottish Natural Heritage Research Report 1085.

Moore, C.G. 2020. Biological analyses of underwater video from monitoring and research cruises carried out from 2017 to 2019 in the Sounds of Barra and Mull, Lochs Sunart, Alsh and Carron, the Inner Sound, and off the Small Isles and east of Shetland. NatureScot Research Report 1229.

Moore, C.G. 2021. Biological analyses of underwater video footage collected from around the Isle of Arran (Firth of Clyde) in 2015. NatureScot Research Report 1265.

Moore, C.G. 2025. Biological analyses of underwater video from monitoring and research cruises carried out from 2021 to 2023 in the Clyde Sea, Sound of Barra, Loch Carron, Loch Eriboll and off Wester Ross. Unpublished report to NatureScot.

Moore, C.G., Cook, R.L., Porter, J.S., Sanderson, W.G., Want, A., Ware, F.J., Howson, C., Kamphausen, L. & Harries, D.B. 2017. 2015 site condition monitoring of marine sedimentary and reef habitats in Loch Laxford SAC. Scottish Natural Heritage Commissioned Report 943.

Moore, C.G., Harries, D.B., Brash, J. & Tulbure, K.W. 2016a. 2015 site condition monitoring survey and biotope mapping of the intertidal sediment flats of Loch Paible, North Uist (Balranald Bog and Loch nam Feithean SSSI). Scottish Natural Heritage Commissioned Report 922.

Moore, C.G., Harries, D.B., James, B., Cook, R.L., Saunders, G.R, Tulbure, K.W., Harbour, R.P. & Kamphausen, L. 2018. The distribution and condition of flame shell beds and other Priority Marine Features in Loch Carron Marine Protected Area and adjacent waters. Scottish Natural Heritage Research Report 1038.

Moore, C.G., Harries, D.B., Lyndon, A.R., Mair, J.M., Tulbure, K.W., Saunders, G.R, Grieve, R. & Brash, J. 2016b. 2015 site condition monitoring and site check surveys of marine sedimentary and reef habitats in the Loch nam Madadh SAC, Loch nam Madadh SSSI and Loch an Duin SSSI. Scottish Natural Heritage Commissioned Report 923.

Moore, C.G., Harries, D.B., Tulbure, K.W., Cook, R.L., Saunders, G.R., Lyndon, A.R., Kamphausen, L., & James, B. 2020. The current status of serpulid reefs, horse mussel beds and flame shell beds in Loch Creran SAC and MPA. Scottish Natural Heritage Research Report 1156.

Moore, P.J. & Smale, D.A. 2020. Impacts of climate change on shallow and shelf subtidal habitats relevant to the coastal and marine environment around the UK. MCCIP Science Review 2020, 272–292.

NatureScot, 2018. Review of PMFs outside the Scottish MPA network - Maerl beds. NatureScot.

NatureScot 2025. Improving protection given to Priority Marine Features (PMFs) outside of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). Unpublished reports for the biogenic features: horse mussel beds, blue mussel beds, northern seafan and sponge communities, serpulid aggregations, cold-water coral reefs and flame shell beds.

OSPAR. 2019. Status Assessment 2019 - Maerl beds. OSPAR

OSPAR. 2022. Status Assessment - Lophelia pertusa reefs. OSPARhttps://oap.ospar.org/en/ospar-assessments/committee-assessments/biodiversity-committee/status-assesments/lophelia-pertusa-reefs/

Rennie, A.F., Hansom, J.D., Hurst, M.D., Muir, F.M.E., Naylor, L.A., Dunkley, R.A. & MacDonell, C.J. 2021. Dynamic Coast: The National Overview. CRW2017_08. Scotland's Centre of Expertise for Waters (CREW).

Robins, P.E., Skov, M.W., Lewis, M.J., Giménez, L., Davies, A.G., Malham, S.K., Neill, S.P., McDonald, J.E., Whitton, T.A., Jackson, S.E., Jago, C.F. 2016. Impact of climate change on UK estuaries: A review of past trends and potential projections. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 169, 119-135

Scottish Government. 2020. Healthy and Biologically Diverse Habitats: Biogenic Habitats. Scottish Government.

Scottish Government. 2020. Case study: Persistent damage to the Loch Creran serpulid reefs. Scottish Government.

Scottish Government. 2020. Case study: Protecting the Loch Carron flame shell beds. Scottish Government.

Scottish Government. 2024. Marine Protected Area Network 2024 Report to the Scottish Parliament. Scottish Government.

West, V., McGregor, K, Baker, M., Ward, G. & Frost, N. (ABPmer) 2025, in prep. Review of status and subsequent surveys of blue mussel beds in Scotland. NatureScot Research Report 1352.

Research and SAC/MPA documents for Marine mammals

Arso Civil, M., Ellis, G., Coxon, J. & Hammond, P.S. 2023. Monitoring the east coast bottlenose dolphin population: accounting for southward range expansion. Report to Forth and Tay Windfarm Developers and NatureScot.

Arso Civil, M., Quick, N. J., Cheney, B., Pirotta, E., Thompson, P. M. & Hammond, P. S. 2019. Changing distribution of the east coast of Scotland bottlenose dolphin population and the challenges of area‐based management. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems, 29, 178‐196

Arso Civil, M., Smout, S.C., Thompson, D., Brownlow, A., Davison, N., Doeschate, M., Duck, C.D., Morris, C., Cummings, C., McConnell, B.J. & Hall, A.J. 2017. Harbour Seal Decline–vital rates and drivers. Report to Scottish Government HSD2.

Arso Civil, M., Quick, N., Mews, S., Hague, E. Cheney, B.J., Thompson, P.M. & Hammond, P.S. 2021. Improving understanding of bottlenose dolphin movements along the east coast of Scotland. Final report. Report number SMRUC‐VAT‐2020‐10 provided to European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre (EOWDC).

Banga, R., Russell, DJF., Carter, MID., Chaudry, F., Gilles, A., Abel, C., Ahola, M., Authier, M., Bjørge, A., Brasseur, S., Carlsson, A., Carlstrom, J., Christensen, AH., Dinis, A., Engene, N., Galatius, A., Geelhoed, S., Granquist, S., Haelters, J., Jess, A., Morris, C., Murphy, S., Ó Cadhla, O., Persson, S., Pierce, G., Poncet, S., Rosing‐Asvid, A., Saavedra, C., Taylor, N., Teixeira, A., van Neer, A., Vasconcelos, R. & Vincent, C. 2022. Seal Abundance and Distribution. In: OSPAR, 2023: The 2023 Quality Status Report for the Northeast Atlantic. OSPAR Commission, London.

Benhemma‐Le Gall, A., Graham, I.M., Merchant, N.D. & Thompson, P.M. 2021. Broad‐scale responses of harbor porpoises to pile‐driving and vessel activities during offshore windfarm construction. Frontiers in Marine Science, 8

Cheney, B.J., Arso Civil, M., Hammond, P.S. & Thompson, P.M. 2024. Site Condition Monitoring of bottlenose dolphins within the Moray Firth Special Area of Conservation 2017‐2022. NatureScot Research Report 1360.

Ellis, G., Arso Civil, M., Cheney, B., Sinclair, R., Humphrey, O., Hammond, P.S. & Sparling, C.E. 2023. Towards improved conservation of the east coast of Scotland bottlenose dolphin population: quantifying and understanding a major range expansion into northeast England [Poster Presentation] MASTS Annual Science meeting, Glasgow, December 2023.

Fernandez‐Betelu, O., Graham, I.M., Brookes, K.L., Cheney, B.J., Barton, T.R. & Thompson, P.M. 2021. Far‐field effects of impulsive noise on coastal bottlenose dolphins. Frontiers in Marine Science, 8

Fernandez‐Betelu, O., Graham, I.M., Malcher, F., Webster, E., Cheong, S.H., Wang, L., Iorio‐Merlo, V., Robinson, S. & Thompson, P.M. 2024. Characterising underwater noise and changes in harbour porpoise behaviour during the decommissioning of an oil and gas platform. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 200

Findlay, C.R., Aleynik, D., Farcas, A., Merchant, N.D., Risch, D. & Wilson, B. 2021. Auditory impairment from acoustic seal deterrents predicted for harbour porpoises in a marine protected area. Journal of Applied Ecology, 58(8), 1631‐1642

Findlay, C.R., Coomber, F.G., Dudley, R., Bland, L., Calderan, S.V., Hartny‐Mills, L., Leaper, R., Tougaard, J., Merchant, N.D., Risch, D. & Wilson, B. 2024. Harbour porpoises respond to chronic acoustic deterrent device noise from aquaculture. Biological Conservation, 293

Geelhoed, S.C.V., Authier, M., Pigeault, R. & Gilles, A. 2022. Abundance and Distribution of Cetaceans. In: OSPAR, 2023: The 2023 Quality Status Report for the Northeast Atlantic. OSPAR Commission, London.

Gilles, A, Authier, M, Ramirez‐Martinez, NC, Araújo, H, Blanchard, A, Carlström, J, Eira, C, Dorémus, G, Fernández‐Maldonado, C, Geelhoed, SCV, Kyhn, L, Laran, S, Nachtsheim, D, Panigada, S, Pigeault, R, Sequeira, M, Sveegaard, S,Taylor, NL, Owen, K, Saavedra, C, Vázquez‐Bonales, JA, Unger, B, & Hammond, PS. 2023. Estimates of cetacean abundance in European Atlantic waters in summer 2022 from the SCANS IV aerial and shipboard surveys. Final report published 29 September 2023.

Graham, I.M., Pirotta, E., Merchant, N.D., Farcas, A., Barton, T.R., Cheney, B., Hastie, G.D. & Thompson, P.M. 2017. Responses of bottlenose dolphins and harbor porpoises to impact and vibration piling noise during harbor construction. Ecosphere, 8(5)

Hammond, PS, Lacey, C, Gilles, A, Viquerat, S, Börjesson, P, Herr, H, Macleod, K, Ridoux, V, Santos, MB, Scheidat, M, Teilmann, J, Vingada, J & Øien, N. 2021. Estimates of cetacean abundance in European Atlantic waters in summer 2016 from the SCANS ‐ III aerial and shipboard surveys. SCANS‐III project report 1

Hastie, G.D., Lepper, P., McKnight, J.C., Milne, R., Russell, D.J. & Thompson, D. 2021. Acoustic risk balancing by marine mammals: anthropogenic noise can influence the foraging decisions by seals. Journal of Applied Ecology, 58(9), 1854‐1863

Hastie, G.D., Russell, D.J., Lepper, P., Elliott, J., Wilson, B., Benjamins, S. & Thompson, D. 2018. Harbour seals avoid tidal turbine noise: Implications for collision risk. Journal of Applied Ecology, 55(2), 684‐693

IAMMWG. 2023. Review of Management Unit boundaries for cetaceans in UK waters (2023). JNCC Report 734, JNCC, Peterborough.

ICES. 2021. OSPAR request to estimate bycatch mortality of marine mammals (harbour porpoise Phocoena phocoena, common dolphin Delphinus delphis, grey seal Halichoerus grypus) within the OSPAR maritime area. In Report of the ICES Advisory Committee, 2021

JNCC. 2023. JNCC guidance for the use of Passive Acoustic Monitoring in UK waters for minimising the risk of injury to marine mammals from offshore activities. JNCC, Peterborough.

JNCC. 2025. JNCC guidelines for minimising the risk of injury to marine mammals from unexploded ordnance (UXO) clearance in the marine environment. JNCC, Aberdeen

JNCC, Natural England and Cefas. 2025. JNCC, Natural England and Cefas position on the use of quieter piling methods and noise abatement systems when installing offshore wind turbine foundations. JNCC, Aberdeen

Leaper, R., MacLennan, E., Brownlow, A., Calderan, S.V., Dyke, K., Evans, P.G., Hartny‐Mills, L., Jarvis, D., McWhinnie, L., Philp, A. & Read, F.L. 2022. Estimates of humpback and minke whale entanglements in the Scottish static pot (creel) fishery. Endangered Species Research, 49, 217‐232

MacLennan, E., Hartny‐Mills, L., Read, F.L., Dolman, S.J., Philp, A., Dearing, K.E., Jarvis, D. & Brownlow, A.C. 2021. Scottish Entanglement Alliance (SEA): Understanding the scale and impacts of marine animal entanglement in the Scottish creel fishery. NatureScot Research Report 1268.

MacLennan, Ellie & Leaper, Russell & Brownlow, Andrew & Calderan, Susannah & Jarvis, Dan & Hartny‐Mills, Lauren & Ryan, Conor & Yamada, Chika. 2020. Estimates of humpback and minke whale entanglements in Scotland. Conference paper, International Whaling Commission Scientific Committee (SC68B), Cambridge

Murphy, S., Evans, P.G., Pinn, E. & Pierce, G.J. 2021. Conservation management of common dolphins: Lessons learned from the North‐East Atlantic. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems, 31, 137‐166

Murphy, S., Law, R.J., Deaville, R., Barnett, J., Perkins, M.W., Brownlow, A., Penrose, R., Davison, N.J., Barber, J.L. & Jepson, P.D. 2018. Organochlorine contaminants and reproductive implication in cetaceans: a case study of the common dolphin. Marine Mammal Ecotoxicology, 2018, 3‐38

NatureScot. 2019. SAC Selection Assessment Document: Inner Hebrides and the Minches. Version 12. Scottish Natural Heritage, UK.

O’Neil, K.E., Cunningham, E.G. & Moore, D.M. 2019, Sudden seasonal occurrence of humpback whales Megaptera novaeangliae in the Firth of Forth, Scotland and first confirmed movement between high‐latitude feeding grounds and United Kingdom waters. Marine Biodiversity Records, 12(12)

Onoufriou, J., Russell, D.J., Thompson, D., Moss, S.E. & Hastie, G.D. 2021. Quantifying the effects of tidal turbine array operations on the distribution of marine mammals: Implications for collision risk. Renewable Energy, 180, 157‐165

Pierce, G.J., Brownlow, A., Evans, P.G., IJsseldijk, L., Kamińska, K., Kessler, L., Murphy, S., Pinn, E., Ridoux, V., Simmonds, M.P. & Spitz, J. 2022. Report of the ASCOBANS Resource Depletion Working Group.

Plint, T., ten Doeschate, M.T., Brownlow, A.C., Davison, N.J., Hantke, G., Kitchener, A.C., Longstaffe, F.J., McGill, R.A., Simon‐Nutbrown, C. & Magill, C.R. 2023. Stable isotope ecology and interspecific dietary overlap among dolphins in the Northeast Atlantic. Frontiers in Marine Science, 10

SCOS. 2021. Advice on Matters Related to the Management of Seal Populations: 2021. Natural Environment Research Council Special Committee on Seals.

SCOS. 2022. Scientific Advice on Matters Related to the Management of Seal Populations: 2022. Natural Environment Research Council, Special Committee on Seals.

SCOS. 2024. Advice on Matters Related to the Management of Seal Populations: 2023. Natural Environment Research Council Special Committee on Seals.

Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme. 2020. Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme (SMASS) Annual Report 2019. SRUC, Inverness

Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme. 2021. Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme (SMASS) Annual Report 2020. SRUC, Inverness

Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme. 2022. Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme (SMASS) Annual Report 2021. University of Glasgow

Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme. 2023. Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme (SMASS) Annual Report 2022. University of Glasgow

Stone, C., Hall, K., Mendes, S. & Tasker, M. 2017. The effects of seismic operations in UK waters: analysis of Marine Mammal Observer data. Journal of Cetacean Research and Management, 16, 71‐85

Taylor, N., Authier, M., Banga, R., Genu, M. & Gilles, A. 2022. Marine mammal by‐catch. OSPAR, 2023: The 2023 quality status report for the Northeast Atlantic.

Thompson, D., Duck, C.D., Morris, C.D. & Russell, D.J. 2019. The status of harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) in the UK. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems, 29, 40‐60

Trigg, L.E., Chen, F., Shapiro, G.I., Ingram, S.N., Vincent, C., Thompson, D., Russell, D.J., Carter, M.I. & Embling, C.B. 2020. Predicting the exposure of diving grey seals to shipping noise. Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 148(2), 1014‐1029

Waggitt, J.J., Evans, P.G.H., Andrade, J., Banks, A.N., Boisseau, O., Bolton, M., Bradbury, G., Brereton, T., Camphuysen, C.J., Durinck, J., Felce, T., Fijn, R.C., Garcia‐Baron, I., Garthe, S., Geelhoed, S.C.V., Gilles, A., Goodall, M., Haelters, J., Hamilton, S., Hartny‐Mills, L., Hodgins, N., James, K., Jessopp, M., Kavanagh, A.S., Leopold, M., Lohrengel, K., Louzao, M., Markones, N., Martínez‐Cedeira, J., Ó Cadhla, O., Perry, S.L., Pierce, G.J., Ridoux, V., Robinson, K.P., Santos, M.B., Saavedra, C., Skov, H., Stienen, E.W.M., Sveegaard, S., Thompson, P., Vanermen, N., Wall, D., Webb, A., Wilson, J.,Wanless, S., Hiddink, J.G. 2020. Distribution maps of cetacean and seabird populations in the North‐East Atlantic. Journal of Applied Ecology, 57, 253–269.

Whyte, K.F., Russell, D.J., Sparling, C.E., Binnerts, B. & Hastie, G.D. 2020. Estimating the effects of pile driving sounds on seals: Pitfalls and possibilities. Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 147(6), 3948‐3958

Williams, R.S., Brownlow, A., Baillie, A., Barber, J.L., Barnett, J., Davison, N.J., Deaville, R., Ten Doeschate, M., Murphy, S., Penrose, R. & Perkins, M. 2023. Spatiotemporal trends spanning three decades show toxic levels of chemical contaminants in marine mammals. Environmental Science & Technology, 57(49), 20736‐20749

Williams, R.S., Curnick, D.J., Barber, J.L., Brownlow, A., Davison, N.J., Deaville, R., Perkins, M., Jobling, S. & Jepson, P.D. 2020b. Juvenile harbor porpoises in the UK are exposed to a more neurotoxic mixture of polychlorinated biphenyls than adults. Science of the Total Environment, 708

Williams, R.S., Curnick, D.J., Brownlow, A., Barber, J.L., Barnett, J., Davison, N.J., Deaville, R., Ten Doeschate, M., Perkins, M., Jepson, P.D. & Jobling, S. 2021. Polychlorinated biphenyls are associated with reduced testes weights in harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena). Environment International, 150

Williams, R., Doeschate, M.T., Curnick, D.J., Brownlow, A., Barber, J.L., Davison, N.J., Deaville, R., Perkins, M., Jepson, P.D. & Jobling, S. 2020a. Levels of polychlorinated biphenyls are still associated with toxic effects in harbor porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) despite having fallen below proposed toxicity thresholds. Environmental Science & Technology, 54(4), 2277‐2286

Williamson, M.J., ten Doeschate, M.T.I., Deaville, R., Brownlow, A.C., Taylor, N.L. 2021. Cetaceans as sentinels for informing climate change policy in UK waters. Marine Policy 131, 104634.

Research and advice (including research and work required as a basis for the protection, management and sustainable use – birds only)

Bearhop, S., Hilton, G.M., Langley, L.P., McIntosh, A.L.S., & Shaw, J.M. 2024 Flying without fear: Shooting disturbance has little effect on site preferences in a conflict goose species. Journal of Applied Ecology 61(7), 1612-1162

Burns, F., Eaton, M.A., Balmer, D.E., Banks, A., Caldow, R., Donelan, J.L., Douse, A., Duigan, C., Foster, S., Frost, T., Grice, P.V., Hall, C., Hanmer, H.J., Harris, S.J., Johnstone, I., Lindley, P., McCulloch, N., Noble, D.G., Risely, K., Robinson, R.A. & Wotton, S. 2020. The State of the UK’s Birds 2020. RSPB, BTO, WWT, DAERA, JNCC, NatureScot, NE and NRW

Calbrade, N.A., Birtles, G.A., Woodward, I.D., Feather, A., Hiza, B.M., Caulfield, E.B., Balmer, D.E., Peck, K., Wotton, S.R., Shaw, J.M. & Frost, T.M. 2025. Waterbirds in the UK 2023/24: The Wetland Bird Survey and Goose & Swan Monitoring Programme. BTO/RSPB/JNCC/ NatureScot, Thetford

Eaton, M. & the Rare Breeding Birds Panel. 2024. Rare breeding birds in the United Kingdom in 2022. British Birds 117, 585-660

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