Police in Dorset have launched a crackdown on the theft of seagulls’ eggs by poachers who sell them to top-range restaurants.

Organised gangs are believed to be stealing hundreds of eggs a year from the bird’s nests. Black-headed gulls’ eggs are considered a culinary delicacy and are served in many of London’s gourmet restaurants, often with asparagus.

In response to a spate of poaching incidents, Dorset Police have established a new team of officers from its marine section. They will patrol the uninhabited islands off Poole Harbour where many of the gulls nest and lay their eggs.

The work will be supported by the Metropolitan Police, which will help ensure that eggs being bought by London restaurants are responsibly and legally sourced.

Under UK law, harvesting of black-headed gulls’ eggs requires a license. Only around 20 people have been licensed to collect eggs at five sites across the country. These do not include Poole Harbour or anywhere else in Dorset.

The UK's top birds 2018 Show all 10 1 /10 The UK's top birds 2018 The UK's top birds 2018 10. Chaffinch Down one place on last year. Birdwatch has released this year's rankings for the most frequently spotted birds in the UK. Results were collected from 420,489 British birdspotters Getty The UK's top birds 2018 9. Long-tailed tit Up one place on last year Getty The UK's top birds 2018 8. Robin Redbreast Down one place on last year Getty The UK's top birds 2018 7. Great Tit Up one place on last year Getty The UK's top birds 2018 6. Goldfinch In the same place as last year Pierre Dalous The UK's top birds 2018 5. Woodpigeon In the same place as last year Getty The UK's top birds 2018 4. Blackbird Down one place on last year Getty The UK's top birds 2018 3. Blue tit Up one place on last year Getty The UK's top birds 2018 2. Starling In the same place as last year Getty The UK's top birds 2018 1. House sparrow In the same place as last year Getty

Eggs sold legally retail for around £7 and the lucrative trade means many are being illegally collected. Poachers often mistake the black-headed gulls’ eggs for those of the Mediterranean gull – a protected species. Many of the eggs being illegally sold may not be safe for human consumption, according to experts.

The clampdown has been organised by Dorset Police in conjunction with the charity Birds of Poole Harbour.

Police officer Joel Brooks said: “Having a marine section gives us a waterborne capability to patrol these hard to reach areas meaning we can carry out night and day surveillance operations.”