Freedom of Information Request - Seagull Numbers
Date: 15 April 2025
Our ref: SIR179481/A5076547
Information Request – Seagull Numbers
Your Request
Original request:
Please could I request the following information:
(a) An indication of how many seagulls currently exist in Scotland.
(b) Any data which indicates if that numbers has increased or decreased over the last 10 years.
Clarification:
‘I am interested in any data that you have on herring gulls, lesser black-backed gulls, and great black-backed gulls.’
Our Response
Following a search of the information we hold our response is below.
An indication of how many seagulls currently exist in Scotland?
Information we hold on population estimates for Scotland, including trend information between the two JNCC seabird count censuses undertaken in 2000 and 2023, is attached separately. This table was produced by JNCC and includes information on herring gulls, lesser black-backed gulls, and great black-backed gulls. Further information is available from the JNCC website.
Other sources of information that may be of interest:
• Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) seabird surveys project report
• British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) Seabird Monitoring Programme
Any data which indicates if that number has increased or decreased over the last 10 yehttps://www.bto.org/our-science/publications/research-reports/seabird-population-trends- and-causes-change-1986-2023ars?
The latest breeding seabird data is now published on the NatureScot website: Scottish Biodiversity Indicator – The numbers and breeding success of seabirds (1986 to 2023).
The associated news release is available: Seabird numbers in Scotland continue to fall.
Both great black-backed gull and herring gull (natural nesting) have decreased. The report gives more detailed trends for these and other species of seabirds in Scotland over the ten years (2013- 2023) and back to the beginning of the survey in 1986.
How We Handled Your Request
We believe you have asked for environmental information as defined in the Environmental Information (Scotland Regulations 2004 (‘the EIRs’), so we are dealing with your request under those regulations. To be able to use the EIRs, we must apply an exemption under section 39(2) of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (‘FOISA’). The Scottish Information Commissioner’s guidance recommends that public authorities apply this exemption to environmental information and handle request under the EIRs.
If you would like to find out more about the access to information legislation, there is a guidance booklet available on the Scottish Information Commissioner’s website.
Review and Appeal
I hope this information meets your requirements, but if you are dissatisfied with how we have responded to your information request, please write to us within 40 working days explaining your concerns. You can contact us at Battleby, Redgorton, Perth, PH1 3EW or email us at [email protected]. We will carry out a review of our response and contact you with our findings within 20 working days.
If you are not satisfied following this, you can make an appeal to the Scottish Information Commissioner within 6 months. The Scottish Information Commissioner can be contacted at:
Scottish Information Commissioner
Kinburn Castle
Doubledykes Road
St Andrews
Fife
KY16 9DS
Telephone: 01334 464610
Yours sincerely
FOI Officer,
NatureScot
Document downloads
Due to accessibility issues the attached information, referenced above, is available on request by contacting the FOI team at [email protected]. Please reference the case number (starting with SIR).
