Nature charities have issued an urgent plea to halt the Berwick Bank offshore windfarm in a bid to protect Scotland’s dwindling seabird populations.
The proposed development, planned for an area four times the size of Edinburgh, would sit just 40km off East Lothian’s coast and near globally important bird sites like the Isle of May and Bass Rock.
If approved, it would see over 300 turbines, each towering up to 355 metres, erected in the Firth of Forth.
Environmental groups warn the scheme could kill tens of thousands of seabirds annually through collisions and habitat loss.
Among the birds under threat are Puffins, Gannets, Kittiwakes and Razorbills, all of which are already in steep decline.
Berwick Bank, campaigners argue, is so harmful that it’s jeopardising the future of other offshore wind projects that are far less damaging.
The RSPB Scotland, Marine Conservation Society, National Trust for Scotland, Scottish Seabird Centre and Scottish Wildlife Trust have united to oppose the project.
Their joint message to the Scottish Government is clear — Berwick Bank must be refused to protect wildlife and allow more nature-sensitive developments to move forward.
One such alternative is the Ossian windfarm, located further offshore and using floating turbine technology.
Despite its scale, Ossian would have significantly fewer impacts on seabirds, especially when not combined with Berwick Bank.
Individually, Ossian could reduce Kittiwake populations at St Abb’s Head by up to 13%.
Together with Berwick Bank, the toll jumps to a staggering 81%, which experts warn could push the species towards extinction.
St Abb’s Head, managed by the National Trust for Scotland, is home to 45,000 seabirds in breeding season.
The Trust has stated that while it supports renewable energy, it cannot back a project predicted to cause such profound ecological damage.
Scottish Seabird Centre chief executive Harry Huyton said putting a windfarm in the Firth of Forth would be disastrous, calling it “the wrong place” entirely.
Seabirds in Scotland are already grappling with avian flu, overfishing and climate change.
Around 70% of Scotland’s seabird species are in decline, and five more were recently added to the UK’s red list of species at greatest conservation concern.
Anne McCall of RSPB Scotland said that offshore wind is crucial in the fight against climate change but must be done right.
She warned that Berwick Bank is blocking better projects and creating a major roadblock for nature-positive progress.
Jo Pike of the Scottish Wildlife Trust echoed the call, urging ministers to steer development away from fragile ecosystems.
Refusing Berwick Bank, the charities argue, is a decision that could both accelerate renewable progress and shield Scotland’s treasured coastal wildlife.
They believe it’s possible to meet climate goals without sacrificing nature in the process.
