Wildlife

Wild Gannet Colony Welfare and Disturbance

Gannets form dramatic cliff-top colonies of tens of thousands of birds, and their welfare is threatened by disturbance, pollution, and avian influenza.

Key Facts

UK supports approximately 75% of the global northern gannet population
Bass Rock colony in Scotland is the world's largest with over 150,000 birds
Gannets return to the same nest site each year, and colony disturbance disrupts breeding
Highly pathogenic avian influenza killed tens of thousands of gannets in 2022-2023
Marine pollution including plastic entanglement is a growing welfare concern

Welfare Considerations

Gannet colony disturbance during the breeding season causes chick desertion and egg loss at scale. The 2022-23 HPAI outbreak caused enormous welfare suffering across seabird colonies. Protecting colonies from human disturbance is among the most accessible welfare interventions.

What You Can Do

Observe gannet colonies from designated viewing points only
Keep dogs on leads near nesting seabird colonies
Report dead or sick seabirds to APHA during disease outbreak periods
Support organisations monitoring and protecting seabird colonies