Flu outbreak forces National Trust to ban visitors from Farne Islands

2022-07-01

Avian flu outbreak forces National Trust to ban visitors from the Farne Islands after staff found hundreds of dead birds

The National Trust says it is acting to protect colonies of threatened species
Experts insist risk to humans is low and hope tourist ban will help halt the spread
Around 45,000 people visit the islands on boat trips every year to take in views

The Farne Islands are closing to tourists from tomorrow after an outbreak of bird flu killed hundreds of seabirds.

The National Trust, which manages the islands off the Northumberland coast, says it is acting to protect colonies of threatened species, including Atlantic puffins and Arctic terns, which breed there in huge numbers.

While experts insist the risk to humans is low, they hope the tourist ban will help halt the spread of the disease.

Around 45,000 people visit the islands on boat trips every year to take in views of up to 23 species, including 43,000 puffin pairs, as well as a large colony of grey seals.

The Farne Islands are closing to tourists from tomorrow after an outbreak of bird flu killed hundreds of seabirds

The tourist trips out of Seahouses will continue, but visitors will no longer be allowed to land on the Farnes.

The National Trust has announced the decision to close them to visitors from Sunday after finding hundreds of dead birds.

It hoped to protect native species from the flu which is spread when birds come into direct contact with an infected bird, faeces, body fluids or indirectly through food and water.

Some species, such as the ever-popular puffins, are already under threat due to climate change affecting their habitat and food sources.

Simon Lee, general manager for the Farne Islands, said: ‘While we have no confirmed test results from the islands, we are now starting to see the terribly sad and distressing impact of avian influenza on our internationally important and threatened seabirds who make the islands their home.

‘Seabirds nesting in dense colonies, most of which are threatened, such as Arctic terns, are particularly vulnerable now as they have returned to the islands in their thousands to breed, nesting in close proximity to each other.

‘Our ranger teams work tirelessly to monitor and protect these colonies but due to finding significant numbers of dead birds we simply have no other choice but to close the islands.

‘We understand how many people love to visit the islands, but we must do everything we can to protect and to try to help these much-loved seabirds by limiting the spread of the disease.

‘The effect of the disease on the colonies we care for could be devastating due to many species having low reproduction rates, which means the loss of adult birds has a huge impact on populations being able to recover.’

Around 45,000 people visit the islands on boat trips every year to take in views of up to 23 species, including 43,000 puffin pairs, as well as a large colony of grey seals

Mr Lee added: ‘Many of the birds which nest here, such as the vulnerable Atlantic puffin, are already experiencing huge pressures due to climate change with warming sea temperatures impacting food stocks.

‘By closing the islands we will reduce the risk of disturbance on the birds, which will hopefully help at least slow down the spread of the disease during this breeding period before they leave the islands in late summer to continue their annual migratory cycle.’

Ranger teams will remain on the islands to monitor the outbreak.

The UK Health Security Agency has advised that the risk to humans is very low, but people should not touch sick or dead birds.

If found, please report any dead birds to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 0345 9335577.

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