Coastal development destroys nesting habitat, creates light and noise pollution, and introduces predators to seabird colonies, with welfare impacts ranging from breeding failure to direct injury and death.
Seabirds disturbed during the breeding season abandon eggs and chicks, exposing young birds to lethal exposure and starvation. Fledglings disoriented by artificial lighting die from exhaustion, predation, and collision before reaching the sea. Predation by introduced species causes direct suffering and population collapse. The cumulative impact of coastal development on seabird welfare is enormous.