New Environment Minister, Raseanna Cunningham has, at a conference today at Tulliallan Police College, presented Mull’s Wildlife Crime Officer, Finlay Christine, with the Wildlife Crime Co-ordinator of the Year Award.

The award is made by PAW Scotland – Partnership for Action Against Wildlife Crime. In presenting it, Ms Cunningham said: ‘Wildlife crime continues to threaten Scotland’s rare species and it is dedicated people like Mr Christine who are at the forefront of efforts to tackle it.

‘Partnership working is incredibly important and Mr Christine has worked tirelessly with other agencies to protect one of our most precious native species.

‘The Scottish Government will continue to provide the political leadership to tackle wildlife crime, and it is an issue I am particularly passionate about, but we look to those on the ground to lead the fight against this stain on our natural environment’.

Finlay Christine has been with Strathclyde Police for almost 30 years, working on the Isle of Mull since 1991. He was responsible for setting up the Mull Eagle Watch project to raise awareness of and to protect sea eagles on the island. it is a partnership bringing together Forestry Commission Scotland, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, Scottish Natural Heritage, Mull & Iona Community Trust and Strathclyde Police.

As this very successful initiative of Finlay Christine’s makes clear, much of the work of Wildlife Crime Officers (WCOs), both in prevention and detection of wildlife crimes, involves working in partnership with other agencies. The existence and the duties of Police WCOs are an integral part of the fight against wildlife crime.  Scotland now has around 80 WCOs and their impact is widely recognised – and measureable.

PAW Scotland itself  brings together a wide range of bodies with an interest in tackling wildlife crime. Its remit covers issues like conservation, land management, shooting and law enforcement.

Today’s conference at Tulliallan Police College, where WCO Christine was deservedly honoured, was attended by police officers and other key groups including the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty Against Animals (Scottish SPCA), Scottish Raptor Study Groups, RSPB Scotland, British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC), SRPBA, Advocates for Animals and Scottish Gamekeepers Association (SGA).

The Sea Eagle reintroduction programme on Mull has been markedly successful for the species and for the island. It is contributing strongly to the island’s rich wildlife tourism sector. The worthy winner of the Best Wildlife Website Award in the ForArgyll Awards 2008 was RSPB Mara & Breagha, a blog that also offers visitors the opportunity to watch the satellite-tracked flight paths of two young sea eagles hatched on the island.