Mousa next island closed to public due to bird flu

Mousa has been closed to the public for the remainder of the 2022 season in response to ongoing bird flu concerns.

The Mousa Boat will stop running tours to the island from today (Saturday), with Historic Environment Scotland closing the famous Iron Age broch on the island until at least mid-October.

NatureScot has advised the public to stop visiting Mousa to give seabirds @the best possible chance to survive”.

Noss, Ramna Stacks and Gruney are already closed, with the public advised to stay well away from birds at Hermaness.

NatureScot said the risk of people moving around Mousa, and inside the broch, was “too great” to keep it open.

Its deputy director of nature, Eileen Stuart, said it was “not an easy decision” to close access to Mousa, but added: “We are increasingly concerned about the terrible effect avian flu is having in Shetland’s seabird colonies.

“Together with the Scottish government and the Animal and Plant Health Agency, we have looked at biosecurity measures to allow the broch to remain open to the public while the storm petrels are nesting.

“However, the logistics of getting enough clean water out to the broch and ensuring that visitors can clean and disinfect their footwear adequately has proved too challenging for this season.”

RSPB Scotland’s Shetland manager Helen Moncrieff said they “greatly appreciate the decision” to stop running the Mousa Boat this season.

“The impact avian influenza is having on tour operators is incredibly tough, particularly after the last few years.

“We are grateful for the sacrifices that The Mousa Boat company, and other tour operators elsewhere in Scotland, are making to help limit the spread.”

NatureScot said it would review the measures in March 2023.

NO COMMENTS

Add Your Comment

Add Your Comment

Please note, it is the policy of The Shetland Times to publish comments and letters from named individuals only. Both forename and surname are required.

Comments are moderated. Contributors must observe normal standards of decency and tolerance for the opinions of others.

The views expressed are those of contributors and not of The Shetland Times.

The Shetland Times reserves the right to decline or remove any contribution without notice or stating reason.

Comments are limited to 200 words but please email longer articles or letters to editorial@shetlandtimes.co.uk for consideration and include a daytime telephone number and your address. If emailing information in confidence please put "Not for publication" in both the subject line and at the top of the main message.

200 words left

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

logo

Get Latest News in Your Inbox

Join the The Shetland Times mailing list to get one daily email update at midday on what's happening in Shetland.