Wildlife Welfare

Wild Gannet Colony Welfare UK

Gannet colonies are welfare-intensive seabird communities vulnerable to plastic ingestion, HPAI and prey availability change.

Key Facts

The UK hosts over 70% of the world's Northern Gannets at colonies including Bass Rock and Bempton
Avian influenza devastated Bass Rock in 2022 with tens of thousands of birds dying
Plastic ingestion and entanglement in nesting material causes injury and deaths in colonies
Gannet populations were recovering before HPAI arrived and remain under monitoring
Disturbance at colony sites causes mass panic events with chick and egg losses

Welfare Considerations

Gannet colony welfare faces multiple simultaneous threats from disease, pollution and disturbance. The scale of HPAI mortality represents an enormous welfare event. Reducing controllable threats including plastic pollution and disturbance is within human control even where disease management is not.

What You Can Do

Observe gannet colonies from appropriate distances respecting any access restrictions
Reduce single-use plastic to decrease marine plastic pollution harming seabird colonies
Support seabird monitoring programmes tracking HPAI recovery and population trends