A grounded ship threatened the birds of Saint-Kilda

In 2008, the trawler Spinningdale ran aground on the island of Hirta, raising fears of the arrival of harmful rodents for the local bird colonies. The emergency plan was actively supported by the Scottish Environment Minister Michael Russell to protect the ecosystem. A Dutch salvage company, Mammoet, emptied all pollutants and provisions from the ship before the month of April.