Current status
The UK breeding population of common scoter has declined by more than 50% in the last 25 years. In Northern Ireland, 150 pairs in 1967 declined to zero in the early 1990s. All existing breeding pairs are in Scotland. Detailed survey in 1995 found 89 females in Scotland (and 111 in the Republic of Ireland). In eight years common scoters in the Flow Country have declined by 49%, from 55 pairs in 1988 to only 28 in 1996. Breeding habitat includes mesotrophic lochs, blanket bog and heather moorland.
Common scoters have important moulting and wintering localities in the UK, with 25,000-30,000 distributed in inshore waters. Most of these birds originate in Fennoscandia and western Siberia. The wintering areas of British breeding common scoters are unknown.
The common scoter is specially protected under Schedule 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and the Wildlife (Northern Ireland) Order 1985. It is protected as a migratory species under the EC Birds Directive and is listed on Appendix III of the Bern Convention.
Current factors causing loss or decline
Wintering concentrations of common scoters are extremely vulnerable to large-scale oil spills.
Eutrophication may detrimentally affect food availability. Water clarity and level, and weed growth are also potentially important factors.
Fish stocking may have led to increased competition for invertebrate food in some breeding lakes.
Predation by mink may have been responsible for a steady change in sex-ratio in favour of males in Lower Lough Erne. Foxes are also a problem in some areas.
Afforestation, and its secondary effects such as sedimentation and increased access, are a possible threat to the Scottish population.
Modern commercial harvesting of sand-dwelling shellfish may threaten common scoters` food resources.
Current action
Some 81% of Flow Country common scoters nest in protected areas, and on Islay all but one site is designated. Reserves have been established at Lower Lough Erne and Forsinard. Part of the common scoter population occurs within the Shetland and Argyll Islands ESAs.
Two conservation schemes operate in the Flow Country (LIFE-nature scheme and the SNH Peatland Management Scheme). Both should assist the conservation of common scoter.
Statutory and voluntary bodies have been seeking improvement of procedures for coastal oil transportation.
Action plan objectives and targets
In Scotland, increase the breeding population to at least 100 pairs by 2008.
In Scotland, maintain at least the existing breeding range.
Regain common scoter as a breeding species in Northern Ireland.
Maintain the current range and distribution of moulting common scoters.
Maintain the current range and distribution of wintering common scoters.
Proposed actions with lead agencies
Policy and legislation
Seek the implementation of effective legislation to enable site protection of important common scoter marine wintering sites. (ACTION: DETR, EHS, SOAEFD)
Consider the adoption of improved pollution prevention and control measures, including MEHRAs, and shipping management measures. (ACTION: CCW, DETR, DTI, EA, EHS, NE, Harbour authorities, JNCC, LAs, MCA, SEPA, SNH)
Take forward enforcement of MARPOL limits on deliberate discharges, port waste management plans and oil spill contingency planning. (ACTION: CCW, DETR, DTI, EA, EHS, NE, Harbour authorities, JNCC, LAs, MCA, SEPA, SNH)
Ensure that licensing of offshore oil and gas blocks does not detrimentally affect important wintering or moulting sites of common scoters. (ACTION: CCW, DTI, EHS, NE, JNCC, SNH)
Seek the introduction of improved shellfish harvesting and monitoring practices which recognise important and/or designated common scoter areas. (ACTION: DANI, MAFF, SOAEFD, WOAD)
Consider the potential impacts of afforestation proposals on mesotrophic lochs, flows and heather moorland in common scoter areas. (ACTION: DANI(FS), FC, SEPA)
Site safeguard and management
Encourage positive management of peatlands and moorland around common scoter nesting sites. (ACTION: DANI, EHS, SAC, SNH, SOAEFD)
Designate important breeding, moulting and wintering sites as SSSI/ASSI and SPA for common scoters, and encourage their appropriate management. (ACTION: CCW, DETR, EHS, NE, SNH, SOAEFD)
Liaise with the Republic of Ireland over the impact of the Ballyshannon hydro-electric power station on common scoters and the potential for recolonisation. (ACTION: EHS)
Ensure that detrimental effects of development proposals on regular breeding sites and key wintering/moulting sites for common scoters are minimised. (ACTION: CCW, EHS, NE, LAs, SNH, SOAEFD)
Identify forestry sites adjacent to breeding common scoter sites where undesirable impacts could be remedied. (ACTION: FC, SNH)
Seek to enhance water quality in Lower Lough Erne to improve chances of common scoter recolonisation. (ACTION: DANI, EHS)
Species management and protection
Monitor the impact of predators on breeding populations of common scoters, and consider control if necessary. (ACTION: SNH)
Advisory
Provide advice to wetland owners and managers about the requirements of common scoters. (ACTION: EHS, SNH)
Future Research and Monitoring
Revise methods of survey and monitoring of wintering common scoters. (ACTION: CCW, EHS, NE, JNCC, SNH)
Pass information gathered during survey and monitoring of this species to JNCC and the Rare Breeding Birds Panel. (ACTION: CCW, EHS, NE, SNH)
Investigate the ecology, food sources and origin of wintering and moulting common scoters. (ACTION: CCW, EHS, NE, SNH)
Investigate the ecology of breeding common scoters, including food availability, water quality, competitors, predators, and habitat, and clarify impacts of afforestation. (ACTION: FC, SEPA, SNH)
Promote research into the wintering grounds of UK breeding birds and the origins of birds wintering in UK waters. (ACTION: CCW, EHS, NE, JNCC, SNH)
Communications and Publicity
Raise the profile of common scoter as a species that has recently become extinct as a breeder in Northern Ireland and is under threat from land-use changes in the Flow Country. (ACTION: CCW, EHS, NE, JNCC, SNH)
Links with other action plans
None given.