Northern fulmars have been used as indicators of ocean plastic pollution because their surface-feeding behaviour causes high rates of plastic ingestion. Understanding fulmar welfare and plastic connects ocean pollution monitoring to conservation.
Fulmar welfare is primarily affected by plastic ingestion that reduces stomach capacity available for food and may cause digestive obstruction. The extent of plastic in fulmar stomachs -- essentially ubiquitous in the North Sea population -- suggests chronic sub-lethal effects that reduce body condition over time. Fulmars are used as marine plastic pollution monitors precisely because their body burden reflects the pollution level of the ocean areas where they feed. Reducing ocean plastic directly improves fulmar welfare while also addressing the marine pollution crisis affecting thousands of other species.