Friday January 9th 2026
Herring Gull. Photo by Doncoombez (Unsplash)
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Paul Kelly
The public could be fined if they feed gulls under a proposed new bye-law set to be considered by Scottish Borders Council.
People over-feeding gulls is thought to have created major issues in seaside towns such as Eyemouth.
Matters came to a head back in the summer of 2024 when seven children in Eyemouth were left with gashes to their scalps in one month after being attacked by hungry herring gulls.
NatureScot has confirmed that the single most effective step you can take to prevent such incidents is remove food at source.
Now East Berwickshire Independent councillor James Anderson has submitted a draft bye-law to Scottish Borders Council’s legal department.
He believes that if people do no feed gulls, they will “stop settling in our towns and return to the cliffs where they belong”.
Mr Anderson: “Right now, the council has no enforcement powers to stop deliberate feeding. Education alone has not worked.
“That is why I am proposing that Scottish Borders Council introduce a local bye-law that bans feeding gulls in designated areas and allows for fines where people continue to do it.
“A bye-law would reduce aggressive behavior during nesting, protect residents, visitors, and businesses, improve public health and help restore natural gull habitats.”
Under the terms of the proposed bye-law council officers would be able to intervene when feeding persists.
It is proposed that the proposed bye-law, set to be a motion before full council over the next two months, will, if agreed, go out to full public consultation so everyone can have their say.
Historically SBC undertook egg oiling and nest destruction in certain areas, while bird guards on bins were also installed to prevent access.
But in 2019 those services changed from demand-led to being paid for and as a result there were only three such requests in one year and they were withdrawn.
Mr Anderson added: “Residents and businesses along the coast know how serious the gull problem has become.
“NatureScot have been clear that the most effective action we can take is to remove food at source, but at present the council has no enforcement powers to stop deliberate feeding.
“A targeted bye-law would give the council the tools it needs to address a long-standing problem, protect the public, and help move gull populations back to their natural cliff habitats.
“This is a proportionate, lawful, and evidence-based step and the public will have full opportunity to comment through a formal consultation.”
If approved, officers will prepare a draft byelaw, enforcement proposals, and a consultation plan for further consideration by full council.
Local authorities in Scotland have statutory powers to make byelaws under Section 201 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 where they are “necessary, proportionate, and in the interests of good rule and government”.
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