A NEW boat which will work to protect seabirds off the Northumberland coast has been christened by Berwick MP Sir Alan Beith.

Sir Alan performed the champagne naming at Amble Marina of the RSPB boat Tirrick. The name means “tern” in old Shetland dialect and the vessel will be used by RSPB staff to get to and from Coquet Island so they can carry out conservation work at the seabird sanctuary.

During the breeding season, wardens spend a week at a time on the island and the boat is their lifeline to the outside world.

Sir Alan took a trip to Coquet Island on the boat to experience the sights and sounds of the thousands of sea birds, which include puffins, kittiwakes and England’s largest breeding colony of roseate terns.

He was joined on Tirrick by Helen Quayle, the RSPB’s regional marine conservation officer who talked to him about the importance of the designation of Marine Conservation Zones in the North Sea.

She said: “Coquet Island is a real sanctuary for seabirds and they enjoy legal protection while they are there. However, the birds have no such protection when they leave the island to forage for food for themselves and their chicks.

“The Government is committed to creating a network of Marine Conservation Zones. The selection of sites is currently under way and we are working hard to ensure that these are located in the most important areas for our sea life and will afford seabirds the protection that they urgently need.”