Northern gannets (Morus bassanus) and other seabird species face serious welfare threats from interactions with commercial fishing operations. Bycatch, entanglement in fishing gear, and consumption of fish offal discards create significant individual animal suffering and contribute to population-level welfare concerns.
Seabirds attracted to fishing vessels dive into set nets, longlines, and trawl gear and drown. Longline fisheries are particularly problematic — baited hooks attract seabirds including gannets, albatrosses, petrels, and shearwaters, which become hooked and drown when the line is set. An estimated 160,000-320,000 seabirds die as bycatch annually in longline fisheries globally.
Drowning death is not instantaneous — entangled birds may struggle for minutes before losing consciousness, causing significant distress. Survivors of entanglement may have wing injuries from struggling, causing disability and preventing flight and feeding.
Lost and abandoned fishing gear ("ghost gear") continues to trap seabirds long after loss. Ghost nets drift with ocean currents and entangle diving seabirds that detect fish trapped within them. Gannets are particularly vulnerable — their spectacular plunge-diving technique makes them prone to entangling with gear on the sea surface and subsurface.
Seabirds feeding on ocean surface items mistake plastic fragments for prey. Adult gannets and other species feed plastic to chicks, filling stomachs with indigestible material that causes starvation. Approximately 90% of seabirds globally have ingested plastic; projections suggest >99% will carry plastic by 2050 without intervention. Welfare impacts include: gastric blockage, internal injury from sharp fragments, and malnutrition from reduced capacity for real food.
Multiple technical solutions reduce seabird bycatch welfare impacts:
Seabird rehabilitation centres handle entangled and oiled gannets and other seabirds. Gannet rehabilitation is complex — these are large, powerful birds with sharp bills that cause serious injuries during handling. Appropriate protective equipment, experienced handling, and welfare-conscious anaesthesia protocols for surgery are essential. Release success rates vary by injury type; wing injuries often have poor prognosis for full recovery.