here - Shetland Islands Council

Nature Conservation
Scottish Natural Heritage is the independent government agency responsible for safeguarding and enhancing
Scotland’s countryside and wildlife, and promoting the understanding and enjoyment of the natural heritage.
Statutory Conservation Sites in Shetland*
2 National Nature Reserves (NNR): Herma Ness (Seabird Colony) 980.3 ha
Noss (Seabird Colony)
313.0 ha
81 Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)
Geology – 33 sites Marsh and Meadow – 7 sites Rare Plants – 9 sites
Geomorphology – 7 sites Limestone Grassland – 1 site Seabirds – 18 sites
Montane Habitats – 1 site Sand Dune Flora – 3 sites Moorland Birds – 15 sites
Serpentine Vegetation – 4 sites Trees and Woodland – 3 sites Wildfowl – 2 sites
Other Heathland – 5 sites Intertidal Habitats – 5 sites Cliff Vegetation – 2 sites
Peatland – 5 sites Aquatic Flora & Fauna – 8 sites Mammals – 4 sites
Note: Some sites are notified for more than one feature of interest.
12 Special Protection Areas, covering 17 of the ornithological SSSIs have been designated under the EC
Birds Directive. A further 12 sites comprising 11 SSSIs and 1 non-SSSI area have been designated as Special
Areas of Conservation under the EC Habitats Directive.
Total area covered by statutory conservation sites is 19,846 hectares which represents 13.5 per cent of the
total area of Shetland.
Approximate area coverage:
Foula — 2 sites 100% Noss — 1 site 100%
Fetlar — 6 sites 70% Mainland & uninhabited islands
Fair Isle — 1 site 66% — 43 sites (1 shared with Yell) 9%
Papa Stour — 1 site 79% Yell — 8 sites (1 shared with Mainland) 4%
Unst — 15 sites 21% Muckle Roe — 1 site 0.1%
Source: Scottish Natural Heritage, Lerwick
Wildlife
Latest population estimates for selected species are as follows:
Species Population Proportion of GB population
Red-necked Phalarope 15-20 breeding males 90%
Whimbrel (tang-whaup) 300 pairs 95%
Great Skua (bonxie) 6,800 pairs 71%
Arctic Skua (skootie alan) 600 pairs 52%
Red-throated Diver (raingoose) 400 pairs 40%
Arctic Tern (tirrick) 25,000 pairs 44%
Fulmar (maalie) 180,000 pairs 38%
Black Guillemot (tystie) 16,000 adults 41%
Shag (skarf) 6,000 pairs 21%
Puffin (tammie norie) 100,000 pairs 18%
Gannet (solan) 39,000 pairs 12%
Grey Seal (selkie) 3,000 individuals (excluding pups) 2.5%
Otter (dratsie) 800 - 1,000 individuals 12%
Common Seal (selkie) 3,500 + individuals 15%
Source: Shetland Amenity Trust
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