NATURE charities are urging the Scottish Government to reject plans for a new offshore wind farm, warning that the developer’s own estimates show it could result in the deaths of tens of thousands of seabirds.
A coalition of five charities have written to the First Minister urging him to reject Berwick Bank windfarm in the Firth of Forth, to protect wildlife and progress less damaging offshore projects.
RSPB Scotland has joined forces with the Marine Conservation Society, National Trust for Scotland, Scottish Seabird Centre and Scottish Wildlife Trust.
Developer SSE has said it has already amended its designs to minimise any potential risks to Scottish seabirds.
Berwick Bank is planned for an area four times the size of the entire City of Edinburgh Council area, just 40km off the East Lothian coast, close to iconic seabird sites like the Bass Rock and Isle of May.
New offshore wind developments are currently being held back due to their combined impacts with Berwick Bank on Scotland’s globally important seabird populations.
The group highlights Ossian, a similar sized windfarm to Berwick Bank which would generate almost the same amount of electricity, which is proposed further offshore and away from key seabird sites.
Ossian alone would reduce the Kittiwake population at St Abb’s Head by up to 13%, and along with the Berwick Bank, the tow are expected to reduce the same Kittiwake population by up to 81%.
If Berwick Bank goes ahead, it is almost impossible to imagine that Ossian would be allowed to proceed due to these devastating impacts.
Around 70% of seabird species are in decline in Scotland, including puffins which face national and global extinction.
Anne McCall, director of RSPB Scotland, said: “Offshore wind has a key role in tackling the climate and nature emergency. We fully support well-sited wind farms which work with nature. But they are being held back by a major spanner in the works.
“Berwick Bank would be catastrophic for Scotland’s globally important seabirds. Its impacts are so damaging it is blocking plans for new, less-harmful windfarms.
“As the First Minister said earlier this year: nature should be at the heart of climate action. Our message to the Scottish Government is clear. Refuse Berwick Bank to unlock the full potential of offshore wind while protecting our outstanding wildlife.”
Diarmid Hearns, interim director of conservation and policy at The National Trust for Scotland, said: “The National Trust for Scotland cares for St Abb's Head National Nature Reserve, which is home to approximately 45,000 seabirds during breeding season, including protected Kittiwake, Guillemot, Razorbill and Shag species.
“Climate change is one of the biggest threats to seabirds and offshore wind development is important to meet Scotland's climate ambitions, therefore we are fully supportive of it. However, installations must be located with sensitivity to the very habitats we're trying to protect from climate impacts- the proposed site for Berwick Bank is likely to cause high levels of ecological damage and severely impact the seabird colonies at St Abb's Head.
“We urge ministers to reject the proposal for Berwick Bank and instead focus on advancing proposals in more appropriate locations.”
Harry Huyton, CEO at Scottish Seabird Centre, added: “The Firth of Forth is home to globally important seabird populations, including the world’s largest colony of gannets on Bass Rock.
“Most of Scotland's seabird species are already in decline, and Berwick Bank threatens to undermine attempts to restore populations by killing and displacing tens of thousands of seabirds. It is simply the wrong place for an offshore wind farm.
“We want to see a strong and vibrant offshore wind industry in Scotland, which avoids developing sensitive sites for wildlife and actively contributes to nature conservation. ministers must urgently act for nature and the future of offshore wind by refusing consent to Berwick Bank.”
