Velvet Scoter Welfare and Marine Bycatch

The velvet scoter is a large sea duck that winters in small numbers off the British coast, and like its relative the common scoter, faces significant welfare risks from oil spills, gillnet bycatch, and offshore development.

Key Facts

Velvet scoters are identified by white wing patches visible in flight; males have a yellow-sided bill
UK wintering numbers are typically under 5,000, making it one of the less abundant wintering sea ducks
They breed in Scandinavia and Russia, wintering across the North Sea and Atlantic coasts
Velvet scoters dive to depths of 30m for mussels, cockles, and crabs on the seabed
European populations have declined significantly, with Baltic and North Sea bycatch a major cause

Welfare Considerations

Velvet scoter welfare is threatened by gillnet bycatch mortality across the flyway, oil spill vulnerability at wintering sites, and habitat disturbance from offshore construction. The species has a low reproductive rate and delayed maturity, meaning population recovery from mortality events is slow. Marine renewable energy development in the North Sea intersects with core velvet scoter wintering habitat, requiring careful environmental impact assessment and compensatory measures.

What You Can Do

Support JNCC and RSPB advocacy for marine protected areas covering scoter wintering grounds
Advocate for bycatch reduction measures in North Sea and Baltic gillnet fisheries
Contribute velvet scoter records to UKSAS surveys to maintain population trend data
Back EU Common Fisheries Policy reform that addresses seabird and waterbird bycatch
Engage with planning processes for offshore wind developments to ensure scoter welfare is assessed