Biosecurity is the practice of protecting places from the threats to wildlife posed by introducing new diseases or types of plants or animals that do not naturally occur there. Seabirds often choose to nest on islands with no land predators and are particularly vulnerable to introduction of predators.
We are working hard to raise awareness of the threat of invasive predators and put in place systems to prevent their accidental introduction to islands.
Biosecurity for LIFE ran from August 2018 to July 2023 and is now followed by legacy projects in England, Scotland and Wales, and ongoing organisational support for Northern Ireland islands.
The Biosecurity for LIFE project produced three reports to share methods, successes and lessons.
They are intended as guides to help conservation professionals embed biosecurity into seabird island strategies and operational practices.
You can take responsibility for your own biosecurity by following these important steps before visiting your island destination:
You can take responsibility for your own biosecurity by following these important steps before visiting your island destination:
My introduction to the Biosecurity for LIFE project was during annual seabird monitoring visits to the Shiants, an uninhabited group of islands in the Western Isles, as a member of the Shiants Seabird Research Group. Several members of SSRG assisted the RSPB during the rat eradication during the winter of...
Are you interested in #biosecurity and want to help carry out our project's legacy to protect seabirds on some incredible islands around Wales - apply here now...https://t.co/iOChh0l7kj @skomer_island @SkokholmIsland @RSPBRamsey @Enlli_Bardsey @RSPBCymru
— Biosecurity for LIFE (@biosecurityLIFE) May 25, 2023
Biosecurity for LIFE focussed primarily on all 42 island Special Protection Areas (SPAs) in the UK designated for breeding seabirds. The legacy projects in England, Scotland and Wales have now expanded this work to Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) designated for breeding seabirds