North Yorkshire Council has developed a new set of plans to manage seagulls in the region’s coastal towns amid rising issues of birds targeting people for food and environmental issues.
While gull species, including herring gulls (referred to as seagulls) and kittiwakes, are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act of 1981, North Yorkshire Council (NYC) says growing number in urban areas are creating challenges for local authorities across the country.
NYC has developed plans for an urban gull strategy outlining a long-term approach to managing the birds across Whitby, Scarborough and Filey.
It says presence of urban gulls can be divisive as they pose challenges to the local community with fouling, nesting, noise, scavenging or taking food.
The strategy is set to cost £119,000 and actions include: using messaging, signs and media campaigns to raise awareness of gull ecology and legal implications of managing them; issuing gull proof bin liner sacks where wheelie bins are not possible; making sure commercial waste practices comply with legal standards; auditing waste bins across the three towns with a view to replacing or retrofitting them to make them gull proof; carrying out seasonal jetting to clean areas fouled by birds; and encouraging use of professionally installed deterrents such as nets, spikes and Avi-shock systems where appropriate.
NYC will also conduct an annual survey and count of gull and kittiwake numbers in Whitby, Scarborough and Filey. Previous figures, collated by the former Scarborough Borough Council in 2018, found Whitby had 234 breeding pairs of herring gulls as well as “significant” numbers of non-breeding pairs spread across several square kilometres of the town.
Executive member for managing our environment, Coun Richard Foster, said: “Gulls are an intrinsic part of the North Yorkshire coast, and living alongside them is something coastal towns have done for generations.
“However, their increasing presence does bring challenges. This proposed strategy sets out a clear, balanced approach that recognises both the importance of protecting these species and the need to minimise their impact on residents, businesses and visitors.
“By focusing on practical measures such as reducing food waste, improving awareness and using effective deterrents, we can support long-term coexistence and ensure our coastal towns remain clean, safe and welcoming places for everyone.”
The document has been put together based on evidence and feedback from local businesses, national conservation data, and in consultation with the Yorkshire Coast Urban Gull Partnership, Natural England, Environment Agency, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, and Yorkshire Water.
The aim is to improve understanding of gull behaviour, reduce access to food, promote targeted cleaning hotspots and shared responsibility with landowners, install safe deterrents, and carry out ongoing population surveys.
The draft strategy will be discussed at a meeting of Scarborough and Whitby area committee on Friday, June 5, as part of the consultation process.
Coun Liz Colling, chair of the Scarborough and Whitby area committee, added: “I am looking forward to the debate and discussion at the area committee on the urban gull strategy.
“I’m interested to see the proposals about how we can change our own behaviour on food waste and litter, and the impact it will make to the cleanliness of our coastal towns and the way that the gulls behave.”
The council’s executive will be asked to adopt the proposed strategy at a meeting later this year. If adopted, it will guide the council’s approach to managing gulls, with regular monitoring and reviews to ensure measures remain effective, lawful and aligned with conservation requirements.
