Planning for More-Than-Human Coexistence in the City: Exploring Gull Management Strategies in Tromsø and Worcester

Abstract

Seabirds have been increasingly entering our cities, and with it has come the need to consider other species in the city. Multispecies planning is becoming more relevant, though the ways and speed at which it can be implemented into the discipline can vary. This study is designed as a comparative case study between Tromsø in Norway and Worcester in England, who have both had their own experiences, conflicts, and management strategies when it comes to addressing the gulls. To investigate how these cities attempted to plan for coexistence with the urban gulls on their roofs, I interviewed both experts and residents who have had firsthand experience with the gulls. The findings and analysis found that whilst Tromsø and Worcester share some similarities in having to deal with red-listed species, and used similar strategies to mitigate conflicts, Tromsø has made more progress in moving towards coexistence with gulls in the city. Worcester, in comparison, has not made as many steps towards coexistence, and this partially stems from the pervading negative attitude towards the gulls, and the species of gulls in Worcester being more aggressive than the gulls in Tromsø.