Scottish Seabird Conservation Action Plan Delivery Partnership minutes: June 2026

Attendees and apologies

• Nanjika Nasiiro, Marine Directorate (Chair)
• Elaine Tait, Marine Directorate
• Ashleigh Meikle, Marine Directorate
• Joel Hankinson, Offshore Wind Directorate
• Emma Philip, NatureScot
• Katie Gillham, NatureScot
• Liz Humphreys, British Trust for Ornithology
• Kate Bellew, Crown Estate Scotland
• Daisy Burnell, Joint Nature Conservation Committee
• Ellie Owen, National Trust for Scotland
• Helen McLachlan, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB)
• Elena Balestri, Scottish Fishermen’s Federation
• Hettie Pike, Scottish Marine Environmental Enhancement Fund (SMEEF)
• Chloe Meechan, Scottish Renewables
• Harry Huyton, Scottish Seabird Centre

Apologies

• David Anderson, Aberdeen Fish Producer’s Organisation

Items and actions

Welcome and apologies

The Chair welcomed everyone to the third meeting of the Seabird Conservation Action Plan (CAP) Delivery Partnership meeting, noting those absent and welcoming Paul Walton as the new RSPB representative and Chloe Meechan as the new Scottish Renewables representative.

The Chair provided an update on the recent Marine Directorate (MD) restructure in terms of the newly formed Marine Planning, Environment and Corporate Portfolio with John Mouat appointed interim Deputy Director, who will co-chair future meetings.

Review of Previous Actions

EP updated on the actions arising from the last meeting

• all members to review the delivery pathway and submit progress reports (completed)
• to update the RAG rating system to include “complete” and “not started” categories (completed)

All actions were therefore marked as completed. In moving forward, it was agreed that future meetings will formally approve the previous meetings minutes ahead of publication on the SG website.

Delivery Manager Update

EP provided an overview of ongoing work being taken forward by the Seabird CAP delivery team across the CAP themes:

Ensuring plentiful food:

Supporting Marine Directorate on the MPA fisheries management measures focusing on the fisheries assessments for demersal gear, static gear and long lining (consultation expected in autumn). 

Restoring and improving habitats:

• providing advice to Offshore Wind Directorate (OWD) on the development of measures for Portfolio of Compensation Measures
• established the Predator Reduction and Biosecurity Project Advisory Group (PAG) with first meeting held 20th May 2026
• active incursion responses: rat incursion on Mousa, Shetland; stoat incursion on Rousay, Orkney
• biosecurity programme plan nearing publication

Maximising resilience and survival:

Work on bycatch mitigation and compensation measures ongoing.

Building the evidence:

Seabird monitoring (Flannans and Ailsa Craig); input to Seabird Conservation UK Advisory Science Forum (SCUAS) draft report.

Celebrating Scotland’s seabirds:

Attended first meeting of the seabird communications working group.

Making a global contribution:

Engagement with Northeast Atlantic Regeneration project and with JNCC on the OSPAR Marine Bird Regional Action Plan.

Partnership Updates

Offshore Wind: Strategic compensation (JH)

• strategic compensation reforms are now operational with an SSI coming into force on 25 May 2026. Supporting guidance is still in progress and will be presented to Ministers in due course
• sectoral Marine Plan on track for publication summer 2026
• work on securing a Scottish Marine Recovery Fund is progressing and close to agreeing a financial mechanism, including how the fund will operate in practice

Communications and Engagement (HH)

• the Scottish Seabird Centre (SSC) has convened the first meeting of partners to discussion taking forward a national communications plan
• RSPB acquisition of Bass Rock and Craigleith announced, with future engagement programme planned between SSC and RSPB

Science and Evidence (DB)

• the report from the first meeting of the SCUAS report is due to be published in summer. Priority research areas identified and already helping to secure funds (e.g. biosecurity database funded for three years)

Monitoring and Licensing (KG)

• seabird colony monitoring project ongoing, with 23 priority sites being targeted this year
• gannet harvest licence under assessment; decision to be taken by NatureScot Board in early July

Biosecurity (RSPB)

• biosecurity programme plan finalised
• Mousa rat incursion which is likely to involve more than one individual; possible winter eradication required, but under consideration
• continued stoat incursion response in Orkney
• long-term delivery model and funding for biosecurity beyond March 2027 is still unresolved.  Working with Seabird CAP delivery team to develop potential delivery options

Delivery Pathway – Progress and Barriers

Progress reports had been received by delivery partners, and the Delivery Pathway had been updated accordingly. No actions were rated as red (behind scheduled), and some actions were rated as amber due to:

• funding uncertainty
• staff resourcing constraints (including unplanned staff absences)
• known delays (e.g. MPA fisheries consultation)

Discussion highlighted the need to distinguish between progress against the action plan (which the RAG rating does) versus actual conservation outcomes.

Annual Progress Report

ET presented the draft structure for the annual progress report (theme-based summary plus detailed appendix).

Key timelines:

• first draft of the report to be circulated to the DP for comment: 20 July
• comments from DP, including any updates on actions, due by: 10 August
• final draft shared with DP for review on: 17 August
• annual progress report sign-off at the next meeting: 25 August

The intention is to publish the report in October following Ministerial approval.

Any Other Business

• the next meeting to be held in person in Edinburgh on 25 August (St Andrews House identified but depends on room availability)
• Chloe Meechan introduced herself as the new representative from Scottish Renewables.
• SMEEF Update: Taking Flight grant has been awarded to the Isle of Eigg Heritage Trust to carry out a feasibility study for rat eradication on the island.  SMEEF also developing criteria for the next Taking Flight grant round.

Actions

• action - members to provide any additional comments on annual report format by the end of June
• action - Annual report drafting and review to proceed to agreed timeline
• action - Future meetings to include formal minutes approval
• action - Secretariat to confirm August meeting logistics
• action - NatureScot to follow up a request from RSPB on guidance regarding invasive non-native species