Full Breakdown
Lundy Island's Rat Eradication Sparks Unprecedented Seabird Recovery
7/1/2026, 9:48:09 PM
Rat Eradication and Seabird Recovery
Seabird colonies on Lundy Island collapsed from an estimated 80,000 in 1939 to 7,351 by 2000 after brown and black rats, introduced via ships, preyed on eggs and chicks. In 2002 the RSPB, Natural England, the National Trust and the Landmark Trust began a four-year eradication programme. The island was declared rat-free in March 2006, and strict biosecurity checks now guard all vessels, cargo and visitor baggage.
Seabird Population Surge
Surveys now record over 40,000 breeding seabirds, the highest total since the 1930s. Manx shearwaters have risen from fewer than 600 in 2001 to more than 25,000, representing 95 % of England’s breeding population. Puffins increased from 13 individuals in 2000 to 1,335, and storm petrels, absent since the 1930s, have established more than 150 breeding pairs since 2014.
Conservation Partners
The island is owned by the National Trust and managed by the Landmark Trust; the RSPB and Natural England continue wildlife monitoring and biosecurity enforcement. The partnership is cited as a model for invasive-species projects elsewhere.
Official Statements & Responses
Derek Green, Lundy’s managing director, called the recovery a major UK conservation success driven by evidence-based policy. Ben McCarthy of the National Trust highlighted the role of strong partnership and ambitious planning. RSPB senior conservation officer Helen Booker warned that the surrounding marine area remains unprotected and urged designation of a Special Protection Area.
Criticism & Calls for Protection
The RSPB argues that existing statutory safeguards exclude the waters used by seabirds, leaving colonies vulnerable to offshore threats such as fishing and pollution. It recommends incorporating Lundy’s adjacent seas into a Special Protection Area to extend legal protection beyond the island.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The remarkable recovery of Lundy’s seabirds following the successful rat eradication is one of the UK’s great conservation success stories.” — Derek Green, Managing Director, Lundy Island
- “Eradicating rats from the island was a remarkable achievement made possible through strong partnership working and bold, ambitious thinking.” — Ben McCarthy, Head of Nature Conservation, National Trust
- “While Lundy itself has some protection, the island and the waters that its seabirds use remain highly vulnerable, as they are not considered when significant potential impacts are assessed.” — Helen Booker, Senior Conservation Officer, RSPB
What’s Next
The RSPB is lobbying for Special Protection Area status to extend legal protection to the surrounding marine environment. Ongoing monitoring will track population trends, and biosecurity measures remain in place to prevent rat re-introduction.
