NatureScot has announced that it will close the Isle of May for visitors as a result of the bird flu outbreak across Scotland.

The island, situated off the East Lothian coast, will close for public landings on July 1 as a protective measure with seabird populations already being heavily affected by the disease.

The avian influenza outbreak has resulted in hundreds of seabirds (primarily gannets) washing up on county beaches already, with the disease being confirmed in East Lothian only two weeks ago.

Public landings have already stopped at the Bass Rock where the world's largest northern gannet colony is based, with images showing severely depleted numbers compared to previous years.

NatureScot have now followed suit at the Isle of May with Eileen Stuart, NatureScot’s deputy director of nature & climate change, stating that it was a necessary measure to protect seabird colonies.

She said: “The decision to close these reserves has not been taken lightly, but we are increasingly concerned about the devastating impact avian flu is having in Scotland, particularly on our seabird colonies.

“Our island reserves in particular are a haven for internationally important bird populations.

"The situation has been rapidly evolving and deteriorating, and we feel at this time that restricting access to these sites, and reducing it at others, is a precautionary but proportionate approach that gives us the best chance of reducing the spread of the virus and its impact.

“We recognise that this will be disappointing for those planning a visit but we hope people understand that this is about protecting our precious seabird populations for the future.

"Visitors will still be able to enjoy the summer seabird spectacle at both island reserves by taking round-island trips without coming ashore, and at other reserves by viewing from a short distance without crossing through colony areas.

"We will be keeping the situation under regular review over the coming weeks.”

Susan Davies, CEO of the Scottish Seabird Centre, said: “NatureScot’s decision to close the Isle of May to visitor landings highlights how concerned they are that avian flu, which is still passing through seabird colonies around Scotland, may now affect some of the internationally important seabirds breeding on the island.

"The closure of this National Nature Reserve is designed to reduce any additional stress from visitor disturbance and give seabirds the best chance of recovery.

"We are contacting all customers who had booked our Isle of May landing trips to give them an alternative trip offer.

"The alternative trip will sail around the whole Isle of May to experience the seabird cliff colonies from the vantage point of the sea and to combine this with time around the Lamb, Craigleith and the Bass Rock.

"We will need to wait to see how many customers are willing to transfer to this alternative trip. It may yet be another blow to rural tourism at a time when businesses are still trying to recover from the financial impacts of Covid-19, but it is a necessary step to protect our seabird colonies for the future.”