Better late than never! RSPB wakes up to fact that North Sea accident threatens to devastate seabird colony

                                                 

The Yorkshire cliffs - breeding habitat for thousands of seabirds, including Gannets 

 IT took the best part of 24 hours, but the RSPB has at last put out a statement in response to yesterday's widely-reported collision of an oil tanker and a cargo vessel off the Yorkshire Coast.

The statement did not come from, as might have been expected, from its chief executive, Beccy Speight, but from an area manager, Richard Barnard.

Said he: "The RSPB is extremely concerned about the potential impact of this tanker collision on the marine environment. 

"Much will depend on the type of fuel on board and sea currents.   

"The whole area around the collision is important for birds, home to internationally important populations of seabirds. 

"To the south is the Greater Wash Special Protection area, a vital location for wintering Red-throated Divers and Common Scoters. 

"To the north and west  is the RSPB’s seabird nature reserve at Bempton Cliffs."   

He continued: "We also need to consider any potential impacts on our estuaries, such as the Humber and the Wash. 

"Oil directly impacts seabirds, coating their feathers and reducing their waterproofing and buoyancy, which can lead to drowning, or it can poison them through ingestion.   

"Overall, the RSPB is concerned about the current resilience of seabird populations. 

"Many seabird populations are facing long term declines and were hard hit by avian flu, and most have yet to see any recovery from this. 

"There is still a question mark over the restriction of fishing for sandeels, a vital food source for many seabirds. 

"Added to this is the ongoing pressure on our marine environment from development such as large-scale wind farms especially off the east coast.  

"A potential pollution incident is the last thing these birds need."  

                                      

Sanderling - a species at risk if oil finds its way on to the shoreline

The Wryneck says: Is this statement the best the RSPB can do? Its members and supporters will scarcely be inspired by such a belated and feeble response to such a significant incident. The society needs to be much more forthright  in detailing the potential impact, especially on the seabird breeding colony at Bempton. It should also explain the extent to which, if at all, it is communicating and co-operating with the other agencies that have been much quicker off the mark in seeking to tackle the emergency. Most important of all, it should spell out its proposed plan of action to protect birds if oil pollution proves to be as serious as some are predicting.