Wildlife

Fulmar Welfare and North Sea Plastic Ingestion

Fulmars are considered the best indicators of North Sea plastic pollution because they readily ingest floating debris mistaken for prey.

Key Facts

Over 95% of fulmars beached in the Netherlands contain plastic in their stomachs
Average fulmar stomach contains 35 plastic pieces
Plastic ingestion reduces stomach capacity causing malnutrition
Fulmars feed at the sea surface, particularly vulnerable to floating plastic debris
The Netherlands Seabird Group has monitored fulmar plastic content for decades

Welfare Considerations

Stomach plastic reduces capacity for food causing chronic malnutrition and growth delays in chicks. Sharp plastic fragments can puncture the stomach wall causing peritonitis. Plastic toxins bioaccumulate causing endocrine disruption. Fulmar chicks fed plastic by parents starve while appearing to have full stomachs. Monitoring programmes show little improvement in plastic contamination rates over decades.

What You Can Do

Reduce single-use plastic consumption to decrease ocean plastic loads
Support North Sea plastic cleanup programs
Donate to seabird monitoring programs tracking plastic ingestion rates
Advocate for extended producer responsibility for plastic packaging
Engage with North Sea fishing industry on plastic gear disposal