The fortunes of a tiny fish – and its importance to other marine species – was the focus of a major international conference yesterday.
The event, organised by the RSPB, considered the actions needed to restore sandeel populations in the North Sea.
Numbers have plunged to a “critical” level – raising grave concerns for the creatures which rely on the fish for their survival, including seabirds and seals.
Delegates at the conference at the Scottish Seabird Centre in North Berwick heard the dwindling sandeel population was threatening the entire North Sea ecosystem.
Numbers of kittiwake and Arctic terns on the east coast have fallen by as much as 69% since the 1980s.
Last night, the charity’s seabird officer, Phil Taylor, said: “Sandeels have suffered from overfishing, but now the story is more complex. We have brought the right people to the right place to discuss the right thing to do to help the sandeel.
“It really underpins how the North Sea works.”
Tom Brock OBE, chief executive of the Scottish Seabird Centre, added: “It is crucial that we understand what is causing the major population declines in some seabirds and that we take appropriate conservation action where required.
“Following all the discussions from the last few days, as an education and conservation charity we look forward to working with the RSPB, and the other organisations involved in the workshop, on plans that will make a difference.”
The Wee Bankie, an underwater sandbank off the coast of North Berwick, is of particular importance to the campaign. It provides a spawning ground for sandeels that feeds into the rest of the North Sea.