Wild Animals

Seabird Welfare and Marine Threats

Seabirds face multiple serious welfare threats including bycatch, plastic ingestion, climate change, and colony disturbance.

Key Facts

Seabird populations have declined by over 70 percent globally since 1950
Plastic ingestion is documented in 90 percent of some seabird species
Bycatch kills hundreds of thousands of seabirds annually in longline and gillnet fisheries
Climate change is altering prey distribution and timing, causing widespread breeding failures
Colonial nesting seabirds are vulnerable to disturbance during the breeding season

Welfare Considerations

Seabirds are among the most welfare-compromised wild animals globally, facing simultaneous threats from fishing gear, marine plastic, climate change, and human disturbance. Individual birds that ingest plastic, become entangled in gear, or experience starvation from prey shifts suffer acutely before death. Addressing the multiple drivers of seabird decline is an urgent welfare priority.

What You Can Do

Choose sustainably certified seafood that minimises bycatch
Reduce single-use plastic consumption to decrease marine plastic pollution
Support seabird conservation organisations
Stay away from seabird colonies during breeding season
Advocate for stronger marine protected areas that cover seabird feeding and breeding habitats