The Associated British Ports (ABP) works to the Harbour Kittiwake Wall on the North Pier are being undertaken as part of the preparations for Lowestoft Eastern Energy Facility (LEEF).
“The Port of Lowestoft has long been home for one of Suffolk’s two established kittiwake colonies,” said Andrew Harston, regional director, Wales & Short Sea Ports, ABP.
“We are delighted to be able to upgrade the Port of Lowestoft’s Harbour Kittiwake Wall to ensure that it provides a safe, attractive nesting site for the visiting birds.”
Wildlife protection
The wall has been a successful breeding site, with hundreds of nests and fledglings recorded in previous years, however it is not currently being used by the kittiwakes. This is thought to be due to the build-up of old nests.
Upgrade work will involve removing abandoned nests and installing safe wire mesh protection above the wall ledges to protect the kittiwakes from gull predation.
Lowestoft is home to one of two established breeding colonies in Suffolk and kittiwakes first colonised the piers at the entrance to the Port in the 1950s.
Taking advice from the local Council’s ecologist to ensure that no active nests are being disturbed, ABP will be completing the essential maintenance work over the coming weeks.
ABP’s LEEF site being developed over the next five years and will bring significant upgrades to marine facilities at Lowestoft’s Outer Harbour.
It will create key offshore energy capabilities helping support the UK’s journey towards achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions.
