First seabird reserve in Europe could be built in Jersey

Seabird reserve could be built in Jersey The first European seabird reserve to protect locally endangered puffins, razorbills and other native wildlife could be built in Jersey if planning is approved.

The Birds On The Edge Partnership (BOTE) submitted the plan to "deliver biodiversity gains" and put Jersey "in the European frontline of new technologies in conservation".

The partnership had previously trialled plans for a fence to protect puffins on Jersey's north coast in 2023.

Cristina Sellares, BOTE project officer, said there were currently only six puffins breeding in Jersey.

She said: "There's about 400 to 500 puffins in Channel Island waters at the moment, there are populations from other colonies that are not as threatened as Jersey.

"We believe that young [birds] from these colonies could come here and breed here safely once it's secured.

"So a lot of colonies can start from zero with the right habitats."

'In our hands' BOTE said seabirds were one of the most endangered groups globally, with 56% of species in decline and 43% of species threatened with extinction.

Since 1910, it said Jersey had lost 99% of its breeding puffin population, 92% of its breeding razorbills and all of its breeding guillemots.

Non-native predators that threaten the species include rats, ferrets and domestic cats.

Ms Sellares said the proposal was "about protecting our nature and giving back 0.03% of our island back to nature".

"It is in our hands to give them a place that they can be safe."

Nicolette Westwood, from Société Jersiaise, said the project would bring many benefits to the colonies.

She said: "It's very important, man is taking over everywhere to actually have this one little sanctuary where the puffins can reproduce.

"All their normal breeding habits would continue instead of being brought to an abrupt halt by us and particularly the ferrets we've released into the wild, it just claws back that little bit of nature and gives nature a chance."

Ms Westwood said "the important thing is hopefully to get the fence erected and to actually see the benefit from it".

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