Devastating news for Scotland's Seabirds as Berwick Bank windfarm is consented

Scottish Seabird Centre Media Statement

In response to the Scottish Government decision to consent Berwick Bank offshore windfarm, Harry Huyton, CEO of the Scottish Seabird Centre, said:

“The Scottish Government’s decision to consent Berwick Bank today is devastating news for seabirds, with tens of thousands predicted to be killed by the development.

The Scottish Seabird Centre and nature charities across Scotland have repeatedly called on the Scottish Government to refuse consent for Berwick Bank and to instead back lower impact windfarms, and we are grateful to the thousands of supporters who have emailed the Cabinet Secretary in support of this campaign. It's deeply disappointing that these concerns - and the advice of the Government's own adviser, NatureScot, who also objected to the development - appear to have been ignored.

While a consent has been issued today, it remains conditional on the developer, SSE, developing a robust plan to compensate for the impact of the development on seabirds. Given the sheer scale of impact, we are sceptical that such a plan could ever be developed.

From one of the world's largest gannet colonies on Bass Rock to the kittiwake and razorbill colonies at St Abbs Head, Scotland is privileged to be home to internationally important populations of seabirds. We have a responsibility to protect these extraordinary species, yet most seabird species in Scotland are in decline and many have been hit hard in recent years by avian flu. Consenting Berwick Bank risks further fuelling declines, in direct contradiction to the Scottish Government's commitments to tackle the nature emergency.

We will now look closely at this deeply concerning decision and consider next steps.”

Notes

[1] Nature Charities and NGO’s united to call on Scottish Government to refuse Berwick Bank windfarm in April 2025 in a joint letter to the First Minister, John Swinney.

[2] More than 2600 people have added their voice to the Scottish Seabird Centre’s ‘Say No to Berwick Bank Windfarm’ campaign, emailing Gillian Martin, Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy, demanding that consent for the proposed Berwick Bank Windfarm be refused.

[3] The Berwick Bank development will be sited in the outer Firth of Forth. The surrounding area is home to internationally important populations of seabirds during the summer months, including one of the largest colonies of Northern gannets in the world, the Bass Rock. It would cover an area four times the size of greater Edinburgh with turbines the height of six Scott Monuments, and is predicted to kill many tens of thousands of seabirds, including some of our most endangered species, kittiwakes and puffins.

Image credits and captions:

High-res images available to download HERE.

Image credits: Jamie McDermaid, Emily Burton and Helen Pugh

Note these images are free to use for this story only.

ENDS

For further press information:

· Jess Thompson, Marketing Manager, email jesst@seabird.org, tel: +44(0)1620 890202.

Notes for editors