Managing the Impact of Dogs and Dog Walkers on Bull Island, Dublin

Bull Island Nature Reserve is owned and managed by Dublin City Council. It is part of the Dublin Bay SPA and SAC and supports internationally important numbers of migratory and wintering waterbirds and a range of important habitats like sand dunes and species such as Common Seal.

North Bull Island is frequented by many recreational users on a daily basis. There are two golf courses located on the island and the dunes and beaches are visited by a range of users including walkers with dogs. The site is also used for training activities by the Irish Army & FCA, Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (beached whales practice/exercises) and also for water safety training. The high nature conservation value of the site also attracts nature lovers including birdwatchers. Several nature conservation groups such as Birdwatch Ireland, Irish Wildlife Trust and Dublin Naturalist’s Field Club regularly run field trips to the island.

Disturbance to wildlife is perceived as an issue on the island, in particular, disturbance to important bird species and to breeding seals is regularly reported and, while the exact nature and level of impact from disturbance is difficult to quantify, there is a requirement to ensure that recreational impacts do not compromise the site’s special wildlife interest.

A key issue on the site is the high frequency of unleashed dogs on the site, despite bye-laws prohibiting this, and as a result instances of disturbance to wildlife occur.

EcoÉireann was commissioned by Dublin City Council to look at the impacts of and management options for dog walking on the wildlife at North Bull Island, Dublin.

The overall aim of the project was to determine a recommended approach to management of the island, which maintains dog walking in combination with other recreational activities but provides effective management to enable the protection and enhancement of the high wildlife value of the site, in particular the use of the site by Common and Grey Seals and the numbers and distribution of other designated wildlife features such as the assemblage of wintering waterbirds.

EcoÉireann undertook a review of current issues and measures, engaged with key stakeholders for the the co-design of management measures, produced a draft medium term costed monitoring plan and review of funding information for implementation of measures.

EcoÉireann engaged with Dogs Trust Ireland on the project, both as a stakeholder and as a partner in engaging with the target dog walking audience. Dogs Trust provided much expertise and advice in working with dogs and dog walkers and were able to gain valuable information for their own work in the process.

The work was unusual and involved both ecological expertise in the species and habitat issues but also a strong ability to work with a very diverse range of stakeholders and interested parties, and a depth of knowledge about nature reserve management and recreation.

Collation and analysis of ecological information underpinned the project but the insights into dog walking behaviour and dog walker opinion were very important and the team’s novel approach in working with the target audience through Dogs Trust led to insights from Dogs Trust staff. Public questionnaire surveys, which helped design new approaches and measures and dispelled many perceptions present, have resulted in opening up many more options for management of the island than were present before and should allow the Dublin City Council team to plan management on the island more effectively.