Wildlife Welfare

Wild Gannet Colony Monitoring and Welfare

Monitoring gannet colonies provides important welfare and conservation data for one of the UK's most spectacular seabirds.

Key Facts

UK gannet colonies hold a significant proportion of the world's northern gannet population
Avian influenza has caused significant mortality in some gannet colonies since 2022
Fishing gear entanglement causes injury and mortality in adult gannets
Drone monitoring enables non-invasive colony assessment and welfare monitoring
Breeding success rates serve as indicators of environmental and welfare conditions

Welfare Considerations

Gannet welfare at colony level is affected by multiple threats including disease, fishing gear entanglement, and food availability. Individual birds that become entangled in fishing line suffer slow deaths. The welfare impact of avian influenza mortality events in colonies is significant both for individual birds and for social colony dynamics. Long-term monitoring of colony welfare helps identify emerging threats early.

What You Can Do

Support seabird monitoring and conservation organisations working with gannet colonies
Advocate for fishing gear modifications that reduce seabird entanglement risk
Learn about the threats facing UK gannet colonies and how to support conservation