Marine Animals

Wild Seabird Chick Starvation and Climate

Many seabird species are experiencing increasing chick starvation as climate change affects fish distribution and abundance.

Key Facts

Sandeels and other small forage fish are declining in the North Sea due to warming
Puffin chick starvation events have increased over the past two decades
Arctic terns in Shetland have suffered near-total breeding failure in recent years
Shifting fish distributions mean parents must travel further to find food
Phenological mismatch between chick hatching and prey availability is worsening

Welfare Considerations

Seabird chick starvation is a slow, distressing death. The scale of starvation events driven by climate-induced prey decline represents a major and growing animal welfare crisis in marine ecosystems. Addressing carbon emissions is ultimately the only solution.

What You Can Do

Support urgent climate action to protect seabird prey availability
Donate to seabird monitoring and conservation organisations
Reduce your personal carbon footprint