A series of re-appointments to the Advisory Committee on Sites of Special Scientific Interest (ACSSSI) have been announced today by Michael Russell, Minister for Environment.

Dr Trevor Crisp, Professor Robert Duck, Dr Alastair Sommerville and Dr Colin Legg will continue to provide independent scientific advice to Scottish Natural Heritage on the notification of Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

Dr Trevor Crisp is a retired biological researcher with a primary interest in freshwater ecology. He was a co-opted member of the Committee from 2000 to 2004 and has been a full member since then. He is a former member of Regional Fisheries, Ecology and Recreation Advisory Committee, North East Region and is a member of the Fisheries Committee for which he receives £135 per day.

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Professor Robert Duck is Professor of Environmental Geoscience at the University of Dundee where he specialises in geology and geomorphology. He is currently Chair of the Tay Estuary Forum for which he receives no remuneration.

Dr Alastair Sommerville is an ecologist for Biodiversity Solutions environmental consultancy specialising in ecology and entomology. He is the former Chair of the Eyemouth Marine Centre Trust, currently a Director and the Chair of the Lothian Wildlife Information Centre and is a member of the Scottish Wildlife Trust's Conservation Committee. He receives no remuneration for the latter two posts.

Dr Colin Legg is a Senior Lecturer in Plant Ecology at Edinburgh University with a primary interest in plant ecology and botany. He is a former Council member of the Botanical Society of Scotland and a member of Botanical Society of the British Isles and the British Ecological Society.

Each appointment is for three years from April 1 this year. Each committee member receives a daily attendance fee of £161.98.

(GK/JM)