Marine Animals

Wild Gannet Hunting and Welfare

Gannets are spectacular plunge-divers whose welfare is shaped by prey availability and the risk of drowning in fishing gear.

Key Facts

Gannets plunge from up to 40 metres height entering water at over 100 km/h
Specially adapted skulls and air sacs absorb the impact
They pursue fish to depths of several metres after plunging
Entanglement in fishing line and ghost gear drowns significant numbers
Bass Rock in Scotland holds around 75,000 pairs - the world's largest gannet colony

Welfare Considerations

Gannets entangled in fishing gear or ghost nets drown or are strangled. Entanglement in derelict fishing gear causes prolonged suffering. Avian influenza has caused devastating colony mortality in recent years. Ghost gear removal, fishing gear marking, and HPAI monitoring are the primary welfare interventions for this spectacular species.

What You Can Do

Support ghost fishing gear removal campaigns
Donate to seabird monitoring organisations tracking gannet colony health
Advocate for HPAI surveillance and response funding for seabird colonies