This part of the Biosecurity for LIFE project established biosecurity hubs around Scotland. Hubs have been successfully maintained with all project equipment kept operational for rapid deployment if needed in Shetland, Outer Hebrides, Orkney and Edinburgh covering Scottish SPAs. Since the project happened, the equipment has been used to enable five rapid responses including Fetlar, Noss, Canna, Priest Island and Ailsa Craig.
Other elements of the project included equipment for a trail on A24s on Handa. The trial went well with huge learning about the effectiveness of A24 rodent trap use on Scottish islands. Whilst there were some issues with reliability of the traps the trial gave a clear steer on what circumstances A24 could be an additional useful tool in an incursion response.
Biosecurity signage which is now on display at ports and harbours around Scotland including Oban, Lerwick, North Berwick, Stornoway and Ullapool…..exposing hundreds of thousands of people to biosecurity messaging each year.
Training of two dog handlers during the project drastically increased detection dog capacity in the UK for seabird islands. This has continued to grow of the back of this project and most Scottish SPAs have had at least one dog check and some are managing an annual check.
In 2021 SMEEF was able to provide a grant of £53,331 to support this work using resources from the Nature Restoration Fund.