§ Mr. MaclennanTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has received about the cause of death of the seabirds washed up on the beach to the north of Embo, east Sutherland in the week ending 5 June.
§ Sir Hector Monro[holding answer 22 June 1992]: Scottish Natural Heritage—SNH—has advised that the cause of death is unknown. The condition of the corpses of 177 birds of different species found at the location showed that they had died at various times and some were affected to varying degrees by oil.
Mortality of sea birds during the summer is not an uncommon occurrence. The SNH has reported that other east-facing beaches, subject similarly to the recent prolonged succession of easterly winds, have also accumulated dead birds in above average numbers.
A small quantity of oil identified as originating from the Beatrice Field was also found on the beach. An operation to clean the beach of oil was initiated promptly and was completed by 7 June.