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World’s deadliest windfarm? Help save our seabirds from Berwick Bank
The go-ahead for Berwick Bank is a death knell for thousands of seabirds. With many already in crisis, it must be stopped.
Posted 5 min read
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In July, the Scottish Government granted consent for Berwick Bank offshore windfarm, despite warnings from RSPB Scotland and many others of the catastrophic impact on seabirds.
This decision risks disaster for many species, including Red-listed Gannets, Kittiwakes and Puffins. That’s why, RSPB Scotland, alongside the National Trust for Scotland, the Marine Conservation Society, the Scottish Seabird Centre and the Scottish Wildlife Trust, have written to Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney to stop Berwick Bank and save seabird species from national extinction.
Devasting impact
Berwick Bank will be built off Scotland's east coast, close to vital seabird feeding grounds and globally important sites including Bass Rock – home to one of the world’s largest colonies of Gannets. The windfarm will be huge, including more than 300 turbines, covering an area four times the size of Edinburgh.
The predicted impact of Berwick Bank is bleak, with forecasts showing that it will kill tens of thousands of seabirds in its lifetime. The Scottish Government’s own assessment shows Berwick Bank is predicted to kill 2,808 Guillemots, 814 Kittiwakes, 260 Gannets, 154 Razorbills, and 65 Puffins in the first year alone.
Seabirds in crisis
The go-ahead for Berwick Bank is on top of a seabird crisis. A total of 70% of seabird species are already in decline in Scotland and 62% across the wider UK. Unsustainable fishing, avian flu and climate change are just some of the multiple threats facing seabirds, and that are driving numbers down.
But, despite an outpouring of concern about the development from conservation charities and nature lovers, the Scottish Government granted consent to SSE Renewables for Berwick Bank.
Scottish Ministers have required SSE Renewables to demonstrate ‘sufficient’ seabird compensation will be put in place. But it is impossible to compensate for the unprecedented ecological devastation that Berwick Bank will bring.
We are calling for Berwick Bank to be scrapped to save seabirds, and to instead focus on less damaging offshore wind farm projects.
United to save seabirds
We are standing with other wildlife charities in calling on the Scottish Government and SSE Renewables to cancel their plans for Berwick Bank. We believe that alternative, lower impact proposals should be brought forward instead.
Anne McCall, Director of RSPB Scotland, explains:
“Berwick Bank is the deadliest windfarm for birds we are aware of anywhere on the planet. It could devastate entire colonies of seabirds, and help wipe out some species from the face of Scotland entirely.
“Scotland’s seabird colonies are one of our national treasures, from the Puffins of the Isle of May to the Gannets of Bass Rock. One third of all of Europe’s seabirds breed in Scotland, and they need our protection now more than ever.
“We support renewable energy, but not at any cost. We hope the First Minister and SSE Renewables will reconsider this devastating development.
“There are many offshore wind projects which would together generate more energy than Berwick Bank at a fraction of the cost to wildlife.”
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Also supporting the campaign, Jo Pike, Scottish Wildlife Trust Chief Executive, said:
“Berwick Bank is simply the wrong development in the wrong place. The impact this development would have on our internationally important seabirds at a time when they are already vulnerable is unjustifiable.
“This is especially true when combined with the fact that there are other options for development that would have a lesser impact on nature as well higher energy generation than Berwick Bank. While it is imperative that we move to more sustainable energy, this must not be to the detriment of nature.
“Granting of consent for this development was the wrong decision and we urge the Scottish Government to listen to the call to reconsider.”
How can you help?
Berwick Bank threatens to be the deadliest windfarm for birds anywhere in the world. Join us in calling on Scotland's First Minister and SSE Renewables to reconsider the plans and cancel Berwick Bank.
Why we’re calling on Berwick Bank to be cancelled
