The Joint Nature Conversation Committee has issued a report showing an “alarming decline” in British seabird populations, such as kittiwakes, herring gulls and fulmar, terns and puffin. They found that the numbers of these birds had fallen by approximately 40% in the last decade, significantly affecting species in Orkney and Shetland.

Doug Gilbert, RSPB Scotland reserves ecologist, said: “On Orkney, kittiwakes seem to be really struggling with many abandoned nests, nests with dead chicks, and with nets built, but with nothing in them. Likewise, Arctic terns throughout Orkney and Shetland have found it hard to raise any chicks. Many did not even attempt to breed this year when thousands of pairs would normally nest in colonies such as the RSPB’s Mousa (in Shetland) and North Hill (Orkney) reserves.”

Mr Gilbert added: The most likely cause is the lack of food, especially for Arctic terns and kittiwakes that feed on sandeels. Worryingly, it looks like this problem is being driven by climate change, affecting the marine ecosystem from the bottom up.” Figures for this year’s breeding season are unavailable until later this summer, but initial indications suggest that many seabirds in Orkney and Shetland are once again struggling.

Rory Crawford, RSPB marine policy officer, noted: “Building resilience into or seabird populations is absolutely critical. With the impacts of climate change becoming evident, the new Scottish Marine Act needs to play a crucial role in building this resilience. If this breeding season does turn out to be another disastrous one for sensitive species like kittiwakes, then it is the starkest warning yet that we must implement new laws as a matter of urgency,” he said.

Anglers, however, will greet Mr Crawford’s comments with a degree of despair and will wonder why it is some conservation bodies cannot see that the decline in the numbers of sandeels is as a direct consequence of their ruthless exploitation over the past 30 years to make into food for agricultural animals and factory farm salmon.

• What do you think? Is it about time conservation bodies stated their views on the exploitation of sandeels? Contact the Forum.