Fulmars are iconic North Atlantic seabirds that inadvertently feed plastic debris to their chicks, making them an indicator species for ocean plastic pollution levels.
The fulmar plastic crisis exemplifies a long-term chronic welfare harm caused by human pollution. Birds do not detect plastic as indigestible and continue feeding it to young. Chicks with blocked digestive tracts experience prolonged weakness, inability to gain weight, and death before fledging. Adults carrying plastic loads have reduced energetic efficiency. Monitoring fulmar plastic levels has directly driven EU marine litter policy.