St Agnes and Gugh Seabird Recovery Project
When we look back at the history of achievements stemming from the Isles of Scilly National Landscape Partnership, it’s hard to see a greater accomplishment than the restoration of St Agnes and Gugh for breeding seabirds. In fact, this is still the world’s largest community-based rat removal project to date!
Over 10 years ago now, over 80 residents of St Agnes and Gugh united with partners to remove rats from their islands, with the islands finally being declared rat-free in 2015. The local community continues to carry out biosecurity checks, making sure rats haven’t returned, and thus protecting our endangered burrow-nesting seabirds.
Manx Shearwater ©Chris Lawrence
Storm Petrel chick ©David Price
The Isles of Scilly are important for many seabirds. However, a 25% decrease in the population between 1983 and 2006, showed that Scilly seabirds weren’t thriving as they should’ve been. The Isles of Scilly AONB (now National Landscape) partnership was central to securing funding for eradication of the rats which were preventing shearwaters and petrels nesting successfully on St Agnes and Gugh.
The hard work for the whole community kicked off in the winter of 2013, when bait stations were set up across the islands in a tight grid, including on every residents’ private property. Removing rats from St Agnes and Gugh also protects the island of Annet from rat invasion. Annet is the most important seabird island in Scilly, with the largest populations of nesting Manx shearwaters and storm petrels.
All the hard work and time put in by the community and by Isles of Scilly National Landscape partners paid off with shearwater chicks fledging on St Agnes and Gugh for the first time in living memory. Since then the project has become a passion for residents, who continue to educate newcomers to the island about the big contribution that being rat-free makes to breeding seabirds and the special quality of the islands.
“The outcomes of this island restoration have not just benefited seabirds, but have benefited the community and visitors within our protected landscape.”
“As both a farmer and resident, the Seabird Recovery project has had a wide impact on our landscape and community. It’s provided a sense of ownership where we have all come together to protect biodiversity on St Agnes. With combined efforts, we hope to remain rat-free and safeguard our seabird heritage for generations to come”