Wild Gannet Welfare: Seabird Colonies and Bycatch Mortality

Northern gannets (Morus bassanus) thrive in large UK colonies but face welfare threats from entanglement in marine debris, bycatch in fishing gear, and climate-driven prey shifts.

Key Facts

The UK hosts approximately 60% of the world population of northern gannets, making conservation here globally significant.
Gannets dive at speeds up to 100 km/h and can become entangled in fishing nets and marine plastic debris.
Nesting material entanglement is a significant welfare problem — gannets collect any available material including monofilament fishing line.
The Bass Rock colony in Scotland is the world's largest northern gannet colony with approximately 150,000 birds.
Climate change is shifting sand eel and mackerel distributions, affecting gannet foraging success during chick-rearing.

Welfare Considerations

Gannet welfare threats operate at multiple levels. Fishing line and marine plastic entanglement at nest sites causes chronic welfare harm: birds and chicks become progressively constricted by entangled monofilament, causing limb loss, circulatory compromise, and death. Entanglement welfare impacts are prolonged and painful. Conservation organisations have developed "gannet safeline" made from biodegradable material as an alternative to monofilament for fishermen — reducing entanglement material entering the marine environment. Bycatch in fishing gear (trawls and longlines) causes acute drowning or injury. Scottish Natural Heritage and RSPB monitor gannet colonies for entanglement rates and welfare indicators. Marine litter reduction at sea and responsible fishing practices are the primary welfare interventions.

What You Can Do

Never discard monofilament fishing line — collect and recycle through specialist fishing tackle collection points.
Support RSPB's seabird monitoring and marine conservation campaigns.
Reduce use of single-use plastics that enter marine environments and affect seabird welfare.
Support Scottish Seabird Centre and Bass Rock conservation education.
Advocate for marine protected area expansion to protect gannet foraging areas from industrial fishing pressure.