Marine Animal Welfare

Wild Seabird Welfare and Fishing Interaction

Beyond bycatch, seabird welfare is affected by competition with fisheries for the prey species they depend on for breeding success.

Key Facts

Industrial fishing depletes sand eels and other small fish that seabirds require for chick feeding
Discards from fishing vessels historically supplemented seabird diet but discard bans have reduced this
Some seabird species show range shifts tracking fishing vessel movements to access discards
Breeding failure from food shortage causes mass adult abandonment of colonies and chick starvation
Marine protected areas that restrict fishing can improve prey availability for seabirds

Welfare Considerations

Individual seabirds starving during failed breeding seasons, or abandoned chicks dying of hunger, are welfare victims of fisheries management decisions. Integrating seabird welfare into fisheries management alongside stock sustainability addresses this overlooked welfare concern.

What You Can Do

Choose seafood from fisheries with low seabird bycatch and sustainable forage fish management
Support marine protected areas that protect seabird foraging habitat
Donate to seabird conservation organizations monitoring fishery impacts