Marine Animals

Wild Gannet Juvenile Welfare

Juvenile gannets leave the colony and learn to fish independently - a high-mortality period with significant welfare implications.

Key Facts

Juvenile gannets fledge in autumn and begin solo journeys
They must learn to plunge-dive and catch fish without parental teaching
First-year mortality rates are high as juveniles develop skills
Young gannets winter further south than adults
Successful hunters return to colonies after 3-4 years

Welfare Considerations

Juvenile gannets that fail to develop plunge-diving skills quickly face slow starvation. Maintaining fish populations through sustainable fishing management gives juvenile gannets the best chance of survival.

What You Can Do

Support sustainable fishing management protecting fish populations
Donate to seabird monitoring tracking juvenile gannet survival
Advocate for marine protected areas supporting seabird foraging