By Erin McKeown, Programme Manager, LIFE Raft
Firstly, a note of introduction, I’m LIFE Raft’s new Programme Manager, Erin McKeown having joined the team in June 2025. Having worked in marine policy and with a background in marine conservation — I know Rathlin Island’s significance, especially as Northern Ireland’s largest seabird colony and the largest UK colony for Common Guillemots. However, I’m very aware seabirds are witnessing drastic declines. The latest seabird census for the UK and Ireland highlighted a decline in over 60% of breeding seabird populations in the UK in the last two decades. In Northern Ireland, a decline of over 70% in Atlantic Puffin has occurred in the last 20 years. Urgent action is required to reverse these declines and restore these magnificent seabird populations. LIFE Raft is a key example of this. This project is taking ambitious steps to do this, protecting the internationally important assemblage of breeding seabirds on Rathlin and enabling wider species recovery, by removing invasive non-native rats and ferrets. This is an exciting and vital project, that I’m incredibly proud to be a part of.
What stage is the project at?
LIFE Raft is at an important stage. No ferrets have been seen on the island since Autumn of 2023 and only two rats have been seen in 2025. The project is currently following international eradication best practice and will continue our rat eradication efforts this Winter, starting November 2025. Overall, the project has made massive progress for what is one of the most ambitious and complex eradication projects attempted.
In the run up to project completion, we will be increasing biosecurity measures on Rathlin Island to ensure Rathlin remains invasive species free into the future, and working closely with the Causeway Coast and Glen’s Borough Council to support their goal of making their ports and harbours gold standard for biosecurity.
LIFE Raft Legacy
We will also be working to embed the legacy of LIFE Raft project, showcasing Rathlin Island as an innovative leader and sharing project learnings to support seabird recovery on a wider scale, and support future island restoration projects.
It will be rewarding to see LIFE Raft bring benefits beyond species recovery, but also within the community, for example through the creation of wider economic opportunities, e.g. eco-tourism due to the recovery of the island’s wonderful wildlife.
Like the seabird chicks on Rathlin that have recently spread their wings and headed to the sea for new adventures, I too am feeling ready to jump in, take on challenges but reap the rewards of this groundbreaking project alongside the great LIFE Raft team and local community, without whose support and involvement the project would not exist.
Learn more about LIFE Raft:
https://rathlin360.com/life-raft/life-raft-objectives/