Seabird Island Biosecurity Programme - England Funding 2026-2029

This funding opportunity supports the continuation of biosecurity and island restoration measures to protect England's seabird populations from invasive predatory mammals such as rats and mice. The programme builds on the successful Biosecurity for LIFE (B4L) project (2018-2023) and continues the legacy Biosecurity for England (B4E) initiative. Biosecurity measures are proven effective in preventing accidental introductions of invasive mammals and enabling rapid detection and response to incursions, which directly improves the UK Marine Strategy indicator for marine birds. Seabirds currently fail to achieve Good Environmental Status (GES) due to multiple pressures including avian influenza outbreaks, declining prey abundance, offshore development impacts, and bycatch. Defra is obligated under the UK Marine Strategy to achieve and maintain GES, making continuation of seabird island biosecurity critical to sustain progress and prevent regression. This measure is also identified as a priority action in the England Seabird Conservation and Recovery Pathway (ESCaRP) report. Defra funding is sought for continued delivery of biosecurity work across three financial years (FY 2026/27, FY 2027/28, and FY 2028/29).