A Cumbrian MP has called for a rethink over plans to reintroduce sea eagles into Cumbria.
The birds were once widespread in the county, but the last recorded breeding attempt was at Haweswater in 1787.
Now the Cumbrian White-Tailed Eagle Project is exploring if the birds can be brought back.
A steering group is made of organisations including University of Cumbria, Cumbria Wildlife Trust, The Lifescape Project, RSPB, the Wildland Institute, the Lake District National Park Authority alongside local estate owners and managers.
A viability model for the species’ survival says releasing 66 birds a year for five years would help it survive in the long-term.
An initial look into the possibility of returning these eagles to Cumbria was undertaken in 2023 with a pre-feasibility study led by the University of Cumbria. The project is now looking in more depth at what people think about having the species back in the landscape.
However, Westmorland and Lonsdale MP Tim Farron has written to the Lake District National Park Authority, raising concerns about the impact the potential reintroduction of sea eagles will have on sheep farms in Cumbria.
Many farmers have concerns about the threat this may cause to their livestock, with the National Sheep Association calling for a pause on the introduction of more sea eagles to Britain.
Tim said: “There are well meaning motives behind this but the evidence strongly shows that this would not enhance biodiversity and would become a huge threat to animal welfare and see the loss of lambs
“The evidence shows that sea eagles may not target lots of farms, but that for those farms they do target they will return over and over again and decimate flocks.
“Some may say that the sea eagles won’t be introduced near to farms, but these animals fly long distances and will of course move towards sources of food.
“This is a dangerous, poorly thought out move which is an unnecessary threat to animal welfare and we should stop it.”
