Offshore wind and seabirds: Why strategic compensation plans must be improved

Scotland is on the front line of both the climate and nature emergencies. Our seas are home to internationally important populations of seabirds—gannets, puffins, kittiwakes, guillemots and many more. At the same time, Scotland has huge potential for generating clean, green renewable energy from offshore wind, and taking the opportunity this presents will make a critical contribution to both Scotland's economy and to the UK meeting its climate commitment. The challenge is, however, how to do this while protecting the wildlife that makes our coasts and seas so special.

Recently, the Scottish Government consulted on proposals to reform how compensation is handled when offshore wind developments damage protected habitats and species. In principle, the idea is that if a development harms wildlife, the developer must fund measures elsewhere that benefit nature. This is known as “strategic compensation”. It represents a shift from the current arrangements where developers themselves are expected to compensate directly for significant impacts. For example, if their windfarm is expected to kill six puffins a year then they have to fund projects that will result in six more puffins.

The Scottish Seabird Centre responded to this consultation because we believe the way these rules are set up will make a huge difference - not just for the future of clean energy, but for the survival of Scotland’s seabirds.

Why we are concerned

We support offshore wind as part of the solution to the climate crisis, and are working hard to support the development of lower impact windfarms. But we are deeply worried about these proposals as they stand.

Scotland’s seabirds are already in serious trouble: most species are in decline, and many are red-listed as being of highest conservation concern. Offshore wind developments can add to these pressures by increasing the risk of collision with turbine blades and displacing birds from feeding grounds. If the compensation system isn’t robust, we risk pushing some colonies towards local extinction.

The government’s proposals, in our view, do not yet align with the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy or with the promise of “nature positive” development and, as they are currently written, they could allow unacceptable levels of harm in return for vague or poorly targeted compensation.

What needs to change

We believe compensation should only come into play once every effort has been made to avoid harm in the first place. That means carefully planning windfarms in locations with the least impact on wildlife. When compensation is required, it must as much as possible be designed to actually benefit the species and places being harmed. For example, losing part of a puffin colony cannot be “balanced out” by funding a general marine project somewhere else. We also think stronger safeguards are needed, including:

• Preventing developments from relying too heavily on indirect (known as “Tier 3”) measures that don’t necessarily help the species affected.
• Requiring higher levels of over-compensation when moving down the hierarchy of measures, so that developers are incentivised to do the most effective work possible.
• Protecting irreplaceable habitats—like key seabird breeding sites—where no level of compensation can make up for the loss.

Beyond compensation

It’s also important to recognise that some of the most effective actions to save seabirds—such as tackling fisheries bycatch, improving management of Marine Protected Areas, or controlling invasive predators on nesting islands—require government leadership. These actions are already listed in the Scottish Government's newly published Seabird Conservation Action Plan, and they must be delivered as a priority. Compensation from offshore wind developers should be additional to, not instead of, this essential work.

A choice for Scotland’s future

Scotland has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to show the world how to tackle the climate and nature crises together. We can build a thriving offshore wind industry while also restoring our seabird populations, and strategic compensation has an important role to play in this, but only if the framework is robust and proper safeguards are in place. The Scottish Seabird Centre will continue to stand up for Scotland’s seabirds and seas, ensuring that clean energy and healthy wildlife go hand in hand.

Harry Huyton CEO, Scottish Seabird Centre

September 2025