Sea eagle project falls victim to budget cuts

BUDGET cuts mean the plug has been pulled on a controversial conservation project to reintroduce sea eagles to East Anglia.

Natural England, the government’s landscape agency, will no longer be continuing as a lead partner in the project, which it was undertaking with the RSPB. Instead, it will concentrate on other conservation commitments.

The sea eagle, which has an eight-foot wingspan, is also known as the white-tailed eagle. Believed to have existed in England until the 19th century, plans to establish a colony of 75 birds in Suffolk have been dogged by controversy.

Natural England and the RSPB had carried out an extensive programme of work to assess the feasibility of the project. But farmers feared the birds of prey would target young stock – especially outdoor pigs and poultry.

NFU senior environment adviser Paul Hammett said: “We have always argued that this project represents poor value for money, has dubious environmental benefits, and that the money would be better spent elsewhere

“We’re pleased that Natural England has listened and will not be wasting any more taxpayers’ money on this unwelcome scheme. It’s just a shame it has taken so long to reach this decision.”

The Country Land and Business Association also welcomed the news. Free range pig producers would have been particularly seriously affected as a quarter of the national out door pig herd is in Suffolk, it said.

CLA eastern region director Nicola Currie said: “Poultry producers also had severe doubts on the impact of these huge birds. Examples from Europe do not replicate the farming systems practised in East Suffolk.”

Natural England chief scientist Tom Tew insisted all the evidence suggested that a reintroduction would have been successful. But he conceded it would also be an expensive and difficult operation.

“While it will be a disappointment to many that we must withdraw at this stage, we did not think it was in the interests of the public, nor the many people involved, to delay this decision, which is inevitable given the future financial situation.”