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Auk artificial nesting structures site selection report

15/06/26

June 2026 - Auk ANS Site Selection Report 

This study aimed to identify suitable locations for offshore artificial nesting structures (ANS) for guillemot and razorbill, building on earlier work commissioned by The Crown Estate that identified ecologically suitable sites for black-legged kittiwake ANS. Using agreed ecological, technical, consenting, and navigational criteria, spatial heatmaps were developed to highlight suitable locations and key constraints, ensuring proposed sites are both robust and deliverable. Opportunities for co-locating ANS for multiple species under the Round 4 Kittiwake Strategic Compensation Plan were also explored. The findings demonstrate the potential strategic scalability of offshore ANS for guillemot and razorbill, contributing to the evidence base supporting their potential inclusion within the Library of Strategic Compensation Measures.

Find out more about the site selection work

Read the report >>