Editing Firth of Forth (section)

==Ecology==
The firth is important for [[nature conservation]] and is a [[Site of Special Scientific Interest]]. The [[Firth of Forth Islands SPA]] ([[Special Protection Area]]) is home to more than 90,000 breeding seabirds every year. There is a [[bird observatory]] on the Isle of May.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.the-soc.org.uk/bird-recording/local-recorders-network/areas/birding-advice/69-birding-the-isle-of-may-by-darren-hemsley|title=Birding the Isle of May by Darren Hemsley|website=Scottish Ornithologists' Club|language=en-gb|access-date=20 September 2019}}</ref> A series of sand and gravel banks in the approaches to the firth have since 2014 been designated as a [[Marine Protected Areas in Scotland|Nature Conservation Marine Protected Area]] under the name [[Firth of Forth Banks Complex]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archive.jncc.gov.uk/PDF/Firth_of_Forth_Banks_Complex_Site_Summary_Document_July14.pdf|title=Firth of Forth Banks Complex Marine Protected Area (MPA)|publisher=[[Joint Nature Conservation Committee]]|access-date=22 October 2019|archive-date=22 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191022091505/http://archive.jncc.gov.uk/PDF/Firth_of_Forth_Banks_Complex_Site_Summary_Document_July14.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://sitelink.nature.scot/site/10447|title=SiteLink: Firth of Forth Banks Complex MPA(NC)|publisher=Scottish Natural Heritage|access-date=22 October 2019}}</ref>

The Forth was historically home to a large native population of [[Ostrea edulis|European Oyster]]s.<ref name="Guardian">{{cite web | last=Murray | first=Jessica | title=Oysters doing well in Firth of Forth after reintroduction, say experts | website=the Guardian | date=2024-11-11 | url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/nov/11/oysters-doing-well-in-firth-of-forth-after-reintroduction-say-experts | access-date=2025-02-16}}</ref> However, by the 1900s these had been fished to extinction in the Forth.<ref name="Guardian"/> A project to introduce some 30,000 oysters back in the forth has been successful at re-establishing the population in the 21st century.<ref name="Guardian"/><ref name="a298">{{cite web | title=Oysters reintroduced to Firth of Forth appear to be 'thriving' | website=Sky News | date=2024-11-11 | url=https://news.sky.com/story/oysters-reintroduced-to-firth-of-forth-appear-to-be-thriving-13252594 | access-date=2025-02-16}}</ref>