Plans to create a seabird sanctuary at Plémont have been given the go-ahead – a decision welcomed as “a really important day” for the island’s seabirds.
National Trust for Jersey CEO Alan Le Maistre spoke after the Planning Committee voted three to two in favour of the application from Birds on the Edge to create a 907m “predator exclusion fence” installed along the coast, below the public footpath.
Vice-chair of the Committee, Deputy Alex Curtis, noted that the permission was subject to conditions – including a planning obligation agreement regarding the scheme’s long-term management, maintenance and decommissioning.
Birds on the Edge, which is a partnership between the National Trust for Jersey, the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust and the government’s Natural Environment team, has said the main purpose of the project is to restore habitats and protect threatened species from non-native or “invasive” predators – such as ferrets and rats.
“The reserve will protect over 30 native species of birds, mammals and reptiles, allowing puffins and razorbills, which are on the edge of extinction, to recover in numbers,” it explained in a letter accompanying its application.
Mr Le Maistre said: “This is a really important day for Jersey’s seabirds, for local conservation and of course, for our most iconic resident – the puffin.
“I’m sure Oscar will be opening a bottle of champagne somewhere and I will probably be joining him, proud that Jersey is willing and ready to do whatever it can to protect one of our most treasured species.”
He continued: “Birds on the Edge has been working on this project for almost eight years now and we are deeply thankful to finally have permission to start this project, and to start the much-needed task of building a reserve to protect our seabirds.
“We want to thank our partners and all the teams at the National Trust, Durrell and the Environment Department for the mountains of work that have gone into this project.
“And we want to thank our members and so many islanders who have supported this project and who are proud to protect our puffins and their friends.”
Deputy Jonathan Renouf, a former Environment Minister, was among those who spoke at the meeting in support of the application.
Speaking to Express afterwards, he said he felt the project “fits into a broader picture of how Jersey could enhance its place in the world by doing this kind of protection work”.