RSPB Scotland has joined forces with the Marine Conservation Society, National Trust for Scotland, Scottish Seabird Centre and Scottish Wildlife Trust to urge Scottish Ministers to refuse a 4GW offshore wind project.
The nature charities are arguing that permitting SSE Renewables’ 4100MW Berwick Bank project will threaten the future of seabirds and offshore wind in Scotland.
Berwick Bank is planned for an area four times the size of the entire City of Edinburgh Council area, just 40 km 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.
An example of this is Ossian, a similar sized wind farm to Berwick Bank which would generate almost the same amount of electricity. This project, using the latest floating turbine technology, is proposed further offshore, away from key seabird sites.
Ossian alone would reduce the Kittiwake population at St Abb’s Head by up to 13%. This is a significant number, and work would be needed to help populations bounce back.
According to the charities, Ossian and Berwick Bank together are expected to reduce the same Kittiwake population by up to a 81%.
“This would be so disastrous it could fast track Kittiwakes towards extinction,” they stated.
“If Berwick Bank were removed from the picture, it would open a host of opportunities for new, less harmful offshore wind projects across Scotland,” they added.
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: “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: “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.”