UK seabirds including puffins, gannets, guillemots, and kittiwakes face a growing range of threats from climate change, fisheries bycatch, plastic pollution, and introduced predators. Several species are in steep decline.
Key Facts
UK hosts internationally important populations of seabirds including 60% of global manx shearwaters
Kittiwake populations have declined by 70% since 1986 largely due to sand eel scarcity
Puffins are now on the IUCN red list due to population declines linked to warming seas
Plastic ingestion affects approximately 90% of seabird species worldwide
Avian flu has devastated seabird colonies including gannet and tern populations from 2021-2024
Bycatch in longline fisheries kills hundreds of thousands of seabirds globally each year
Welfare Considerations
Seabirds affected by avian flu experience severe respiratory distress and neurological symptoms before death — the mass mortality events of 2021-2024 involved enormous individual suffering at colony scale. Birds entangled in fishing gear drown or suffer injuries before drowning. Plastic ingestion causes internal blockages and toxicity causing slow deterioration. Starvation from prey scarcity causes gradual decline in body condition with prolonged suffering before death. Addressing these threats requires both immediate welfare interventions (treating oil-contaminated birds, removing entangled birds from gear) and systemic change in fisheries management and climate policy.
What You Can Do
Reduce single-use plastic use to decrease ocean plastic pollution affecting seabirds
Support campaigns for banning lead fishing weights and seabird-safe longline practices
Donate to RSPB and Seabird Group supporting seabird monitoring and conservation
Report sick or injured seabirds to wildlife rescue organizations
Participate in or donate to seabird count programs including the RSPB Seabird Count
Advocate for protected marine areas around key seabird breeding colonies