Photo by Scott Rodgerson

As visitor numbers on the UK’s coastline begin to rise ahead of summer, police forces and conservation organisations have been holding a series of public engagement events under the banner of Operation Seabird, a national campaign aimed at reducing wildlife disturbance and raising awareness of the legal protections afforded to coastal species.

Events took place this month in both Scarborough and Plymouth, with officers from North Yorkshire Police and Devon and Cornwall Police working alongside a broad coalition of environmental groups to engage the public, fishing boat crews and recreational vessel users.

A Yorkshire initiative gone national

Operation Seabird originally developed around the Flamborough Head European Marine Site in Yorkshire, where disturbance caused by activities such as boating, fishing and jet skiing was resulting in unsuccessful breeding seasons for marine wildlife. The campaign raises awareness and provides guidance on how simple changes in behaviour can reduce that disturbance, and has since been adapted for different regions, species and types of threat across the country. It is now a national initiative, pioneered in Yorkshire by RSPCA Inspector Geoff Edmond.

Scarborough

The Scarborough event, held on 22 April as part of the wider Operation Tornado policing initiative, brought together a wide array of partners alongside North Yorkshire Police, including the RSPB, the Marine Management Organisation, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, Natural England, the Yorkshire Marine Nature Partnership, British Divers Marine Life Rescue, the North Eastern Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority, the Coastguard and the RNLI.

A North Yorkshire Police spokesperson said the event “got underway at Scarborough Harbour with the Operation Seabird partners engaging with fishing boat crews and other vessel owners about how they can recognise and report incidents involving boat users, kayakers, paddle boarders, and swimmers who appear to be disturbing dolphins, porpoises, whales and seals in their natural habitat.” Partners then moved to the Seawatching Station on Marine Drive, where stalls were set up to inform wildlife enthusiasts and passers-by.

The spokesperson described it as “a prime opportunity to heighten awareness ahead of the summer months about this vital wildlife protection issue along our famous coastline.” Deputy Chief Constable Scott Bisset took part in the event and praised the efforts of everyone involved.

Plymouth

In Plymouth, Devon and Cornwall Police led a similar event at the city’s quayside, supported by Cattewater Harbour Commissioners and environmental groups including the National Marine Aquarium, Devon Wildlife Trust, Plymouth Sound National Marine Park and the Sharks Trust. The Ministry of Defence also attended, arriving by vessel.

Neighbourhood Beat Manager PC Jessie Rapson-Blackler said: “We are all working together to raise awareness of our wonderful marine wildlife and how to share our home with them to minimise disruption and harm to them.” Officers also spoke to visitors about the role of a Wildlife Crime Officer and offences that can occur, sometimes without people realising. The Plymouth event was well received, with a follow-up already planned for the summer with additional exhibitors.

Why it matters

The campaign’s focus on public behaviour reflects a broader concern among conservation bodies about the cumulative impact of coastal recreation on wildlife that is legally protected but practically vulnerable. Operation Seabird combines the resources of police forces, local authorities, the RSPCA and the RSPB to form a network providing local knowledge and enforcement powers – with the Marine Management Organisation now engaged nationally. With breeding season underway for many coastal species, organisers are urging the public to observe wildlife from a safe distance, follow local signage, and report any suspected disturbance to police or the relevant conservation authority.