Wildlife

Gannet Welfare at Breeding Colonies

Gannets form spectacular colonies on sea stacks and island cliffs, but face welfare threats from plastic entanglement in nests and prey scarcity.

Key Facts

The UK and Ireland hold over 60% of the worlds northern gannet population
Bass Rock in Scotland holds the worlds largest single gannet colony
Gannets incorporate plastic fishing rope into nests causing entanglement deaths
Prey scarcity from overfishing forces gannets to forage further from colonies
Gannets plunge-dive from up to 30 metres at high speed catching fish

Welfare Considerations

Plastic rope in nests entangles chicks and adults, causing leg and neck constrictions that tighten as birds grow or move. Entangled birds die slowly from strangulation or starvation. Prey scarcity forces adults to make longer foraging trips, reducing chick feeding frequency causing growth delays and mortality in poor years. Climate-driven prey shifts alter where adults can find food relative to colony locations.

What You Can Do

Support plastic fishing rope reduction campaigns at sea
Donate to seabird monitoring programs including gannet colony counts
Advocate for sustainable fisheries management protecting seabird prey
Support rope removal programs from gannet and other seabird nests
Engage with the fishing industry on fishing gear modifications