Scottish seabird conservation action plan: equality impact assessment

Key Findings

Given no new policies are being implemented with the action plan, and its three core themes are to ensure plentiful food supplies for seabirds, restore and improve seabird habitats and to maximise seabird resilience and survival, no impacts on the specified protected characteristics were highlighted in the development of it. These characteristics were age, disability, sex, pregnancy and maternity, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, race and religion or belief.

However, engagement with relevant stakeholders, groups and members of the public that are likely to have interest and interaction in the plan was undertaken. A public consultation was held on the action plan, gathering responses from 11 December 2024 to 5 March 2025. The consultation was launched by the Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy at the Scottish Seabird Centre and promoted on social media. The consultation received a total of 5,371 responses, with submissions received from both individuals and organisations. Organisations included those from the fishing sector, renewable energy sector and environment and nature organisations.

With an absence of concerns raised within the public consultation, the focused working group and stakeholder workshop that helped develop the plan, it is considered that the action plan is neither directly or indirectly discriminatory under the Equality Act 2010.