Portfolio of Compensatory Measures for Seabirds

Description

The Scottish Government has a requirement to place a contract(s) with an external service provider for the provision of OWD –Portfolio of Compensatory Measures for Seabirds. Lot 1: Predator control and biosecurity Lot 1 Predator control and biosecurity Identify key actions. Consider both invasive non-native (e.g. American mink, brown rats, other predators) and native (e.g. fox, hedgehog) mammal predator control and/or exclusion. Where appropriate, avian predator control and/or exclusion should also be considered. Consider both mainland and island colonies (not restricted to Scotland). Detail a comprehensive biosecurity programme at appropriate spatial and temporal scales. Lot 2: Habitat management and restoration Lot 2 Habitat management and restoration Identify key actions required to deliver a programme of seabird habitat enhancement and restoration across land and sea to improve nesting and prey supporting habitats. The implementation roadmap for this measure will build upon, but not be limited to, potential habitat management options identified by work being led by NatureScot and RSPB. This work will be provided to the successful contractor upon project inception. Lot 3: Fisheries management compensatory measures Lot 3 Fisheries management compensatory measures Identify key actions. Consider potential fisheries closures/management, fisheries by-catch management and aquaculture. Consider outputs of the Defra clean catch programme when available. Consider just transition approaches and ensuring fairness for fishers in the implementation of fisheries management compensatory measures. Lot 4: Restore and enhance supporting prey habitats Lot 4 Restore and enhance supporting prey habitats Identify key actions. Focus on marine habitats relevant to seabird prey e.g. seagrass meadows, kelp forest. Lot 5: Marine litter removal (at scale) Lot 5 Marine litter removal (at scale) Identify key actions to minimise incidental seabird mortality and that specifically reduce sources of litter that impact on seabird survival and resilience. Consider litter from both domestic (e.g. dropped litter) and industrial sources (e.g. fishing nets). Consider prevention actions that could support delivery of this measure. Consider removal from terrestrial (breeding sites, beaches) and marine (seabird foraging areas) habitats. We anticipate that to be effective this measure would need to implemented at a large spatial scale, consider the appropriate spatial scales for implementation of this measure. Also consider just transition approaches in implementation and alignment with the Scottish Marine Litter Strategy.