Wildlife

Seabird Welfare and Marine Ecosystem Health

Seabirds face welfare challenges from food insecurity, climate change, pollution, and bycatch in commercial fisheries.

Key Facts

Seabird populations have declined by 70% globally since 1950
Puffins, kittiwakes, and arctic terns are showing sharp declines in the UK
Food availability for seabirds is declining due to overfishing and climate-driven prey movement
Plastic ingestion causes starvation and internal injury in seabirds
Oil spills cause acute welfare harm through feather contamination and toxin exposure

Welfare Considerations

Seabirds experience welfare harm from a combination of anthropogenic pressures including food insecurity, bycatch, plastic pollution, and oil contamination. Parent birds that fail to provision chicks due to prey scarcity cause prolonged starvation and death in dependent young. Climate change is exacerbating these pressures through altered prey distribution and availability.

What You Can Do

Support sustainable fisheries management that maintains prey fish populations for seabirds
Reduce single-use plastic to protect seabird feeding grounds
Support seabird monitoring and conservation organisations
Advocate for seabird bycatch mitigation requirements in commercial fisheries
Donate to seabird rehabilitation centres that treat injured and oiled birds