§ Mr. Tony BanksTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will provide details of the current estimate of wildlife lost due to oil pollution in the Shetland Isles as a result of the MV Braer incident.
§ Sir Hector MonroScottish Natural Heritage has reported the recovered losses of birds and mammals set out in the table, up to and including 13 January. The corresponding information on the recoveries of live creatures which have been affected by oil is also shown.
59W
Recovered dead Recovered live Birds Fulmar 2 0 Great northern diver 11 2 Black throated diver 1 0 Long-tailed duck 92 29 Eider duck 48 49 Shag 442 109 Cormorant 1 0 Great black-backed gull 8 0 Herring gull 2 1 Common gull 1 0 Kittiwake 8 2 Common guillemot 7 8 Black guillemot 103 14 Razorbill 1 0 Puffin 1 0 Little auk 4 2 Rock dove 1 1 Starling 1 0 Rock pipit 1 0 Purple sandpiper 1 0 Totals 736 217 Mammals Grey seal 3 4 Common seal 0 1 Otter 3 0 Rabbit 1 0 Totals 7 5 Numbers of sea fish of a variety of species and marine invertebrates such as sea urchin, starfish and octopus were also found dead on the tide line.
§ Mr. MorleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will consider extending the joint Natural Environment Research Council—Scottish Office, Department of Agriculture and Fisheries study by Glasgow university into sandeel biology and breeding seabirds in the Shetland Isles to investigate the effects on both of the recent oil spill.
§ Sir Hector MonroThe research project referred to by the hon. Member is in fact two separate research projects, funded from different sources. The research study carried out by Glasgow university into seabird breeding success in the Shetland Isles is funded principally by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC).
The second project, into the biology of sandeels in the vicinity of seabird colonies in Shetland has been running parallel to the University of Glasgow study and is funded jointly by The Scottish Office Agriculture and Fisheries Department, Department of the Environment, Scottish National Heritage, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, Worldwide Fund for Nature, and Cadbury Ltd. While this project is due to come to an end in March we are currently considering possible extension in the light of the recent developments. We are anxious to ensure that any extension is consistent with the strategy for future studies into the Shetland environment which will be developed by the ecological steering group, the establishment of which was announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on 11 January.