We’re puffin up numbers
New protection zone increases population of island seabirds
A NEW special protection area for seabirds off the Irish coast could help to safeguard the puffin population on uninhabited islands, experts have said.
It is believed the number of puffins nesting on the Saltee islands 5km off Co Wexford has begun to rise again after years of decline.
The breeding season usually starts in late March or early April, finishing in July or August.
The National Parks and Wildlife Service said the most recent census of breeding seabirds in Ireland from 2015 to 21 estimated the number of puffins breeding in Ireland to be 14,232 pairs.
This represents a decline of 26% since the census during 1998 to 2002.
A spokesperson said: “A recent series of counts of puffin at the Saltee Islands earlier this year indicate that the breeding population across these islands, which experienced a pronounced decrease at the turn of the century, is now increasing.
“While the population increase is good news, there are challenges for puffin in its nesting habitat.
“Puffin nest in colonies, at some locations such as the Great Saltee Island, the nests are mostly in old burrows.
“NPWS has addressed a previous problem of predation through a rat eradication programme.
“The main concern for puffin now is the level of recreation pressure on the island, with numbers of daily visitors to the island increasing significantly in recent years.”
The puffins nest under ground, which makes it more difficult to count them, compared with other seabirds that nest on ledges. Earlier this year, Nature Minister Malcolm Noonan announced the new Seas off Wexford SPA would be designated under the EU Birds Directive.
The SPA will cover more than 305,000 hectares of marine waters for a range of bird species and give protection to 20 species, including puffins.
Dr Mark Jessopp, senior lecturer in zoology at University College Cork, said he is “very positive” about the SPA.
He added: “The designation ensures that additional measures are put in place to ensure that the vulnerable seabird populations in the area, including puffins, are fully considered when it comes to any future developments.
“It creates a higher bar for ensuring that the populations are not impacted.
“It also requires more regular surveys of the populations to make sure that they are attaining a favourable conservation status within the SPA.”