Biosecurity for Wales (https://biosecurityforlife.org.uk/biosecurity-for-wales) is working to implement and improve long-term biosecurity practice across all 13 Welsh islands with a Special Protection Area (SPA) or Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) designation for breeding seabirds, like puffins and gannets.
Invasive predators can quickly decimate breeding colonies by eating eggs, chicks, and adult birds. It is vitally important to prevent them reaching these important seabird populations. There have been 38 reported biosecurity incursions on islands designated as Special Protection Areas (SPA) for breeding seabirds around the UK since 2018 alone.
Seabirds are facing increasing human generated threats and their populations have been declining in recent years. Biosecurity is integral to ensuring that surviving adults have a safe place to rear their young. Alleviating pressures has never been more important for the surviving populations to stand a chance of recovering.
About the Speaker
Sarah-Kay (she/her) is the Biosecurity manager for Wales. Sarah-Kay started with the RSPB Cymru in this role back in June after over six years working for the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales, initially as Skomer island Assistant Warden, and then as mid-Wales red squirrel officer. Sarah-Kay’s favourite seabird is the Fulmar.
