Scottish seabird conservation action plan: island communities impact assessment

4. Step Four – Assessment

The action plan, as a framework for ongoing and potential future actions, will not have a direct impact on island communities that differs from rural, coastal and the rest of Scotland. No new policies are being introduced with the plan.

Seabirds have a significant role economically and socially in supporting Scotland’s vital tourism industry and local economies which would be likely across both mainland coastal Scotland and island communities. In addition to this, though action points and measures will be implemented in regions with Gaelic-speaking communities, they again do not discriminate and will be outlined by an evidence-based approach to implementation.

Consultation respondents noted the positive impact that seabirds have on sustainable tourism and economic growth in coastal and island communities. Additionally, many believed the action plan should include actions to eradicate non-mammalian predators from seabird islands and welcomed progress that had been made in recent years regarding this. Upon implementation of future actions, individual assessments regarding impacts on island communities will be undertaken.