The main breeding season for the sea birds at the Mull is generally between the end of May and late July. The cliffs upon which the birds make their nests and raise their chicks are on designated Special Sites of Scientific Interest (SSSIs). These SSSIs are the whole of the reserve, within the boundary wall, at the Mull, and the cliffs between the Gallie Craig Coffee House and the Gallie Craig Rocks.

The sea around the Mull of Galloway is also well stocked with a variety of fish, which in turn attracts sea anglers, those who fish from boats and those who fish from the rocks.

It is a small minority of the latter who are causing concerns for the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) as they seem intent on pursuing their hobby with no respect or consideration for the needs of the resident bird population.

At the entrance to the reserve is a sign, erected by the RSPB, requesting that fishing take place off Lagvag Point, the very eastern end of the Mull and to help those visitors who are not familiar with the reserve there is also a map showing its location.

However, even with this notice, and other polite notices asking people not to fish in certain areas, it would seem that a small minority of fishermen take no heed whatsoever and fish from the rocks, including those directly below the fog horn.

The cliffs below the foghorn are one of the main nesting sites on the Mull, and the presence of humans near to these nests are causing the birds to refuse to return to their nests, with the potential consequences of the unguarded eggs or chicks being taken by other predators, or the eggs being dislodged and destroyed should the sitting birds be panicked into sudden flight.



This problem has been on going for some time, and in an effort to try and stop the fishermen from fishing at unsuitable locations, signs have been erected, pointing out that the birds are nesting in that area, and that no fishing is to take place.



In Scotland the right of access laws apply, and the advice given to the RSPB personnel, many of whom are volunteers, is that those who disregard the requests not to fish in specific areas are to be advised accordingly about lawful access, but the implications of their actions to be pointed out to them.



This advice may be all well and good in theory, but practically speaking, when faced with four or five intransient fishermen, who "know their rights", and furthermore declare they have always been fishing from that location, it is a brave man or woman who argues, and insists that they fish from another location.

The RSPB Community Liaison Officer Paul Tarling, who works at the Mull protecting the birds, is one of those who has to politely point out to them that although they may well be within the law, and they are only fishing, the nesting birds see them as a threat, and by their very presence so near to the nests are putting those birds under unnecessary stress.



Mr. Tarling said, "We like to encourage all sorts of visitors to this spectacular location and don't want to spoil anybody's fun. We do politely ask visiting anglers to avoid certain areas for a few weeks from late May to July. Most of them are very happy to do this.



"Some, however, choose not to comply with our request and don't seem to regard the resulting disturbance to the birds as anything they should feel responsible for."

A spokesperson for Scottish Natural Heritage said: "Anyone going down past the fog horn at the Mull of Galloway, particularly during the short breeding season is not in our view behaving responsibly.



"The right to roam hinges on responsible access. This small minority of people are in deed spoiling it for the rest of us. Birds that are disturbed during the breeding season are immediately at a disadvantage compared with those that are not.

"If they have to leave their nests after being disturbed, then the unprotected eggs and fledglings are in very real danger of being taken by other predatory birds. Indeed, we have a voluntary agreement with rock climbers who visit the region, where by certain crags are not to be climbed during the breeding season.

"This voluntary arrangement works very well with them. Luce Bay and The Mull of Galloway is a sea angling destination, and it is a very great pity that a such small number of irresponsible and inconsiderate sea anglers are causing these problems."

The wardens at the RSPB-run visitors centre on the Mull are only too willing to point out suitable and more accessible fishing marks out with the boundary of the reserve, but still on the Mull of Galloway. Furthermore, there are a number of websites that cover the Luce Bay area which provide information and locations of excellent fishing marks.

There are no reported problems with the boats that fish responsibly in the waters around the reserve.