Wildlife

Wild Gannet Colony Seabird Welfare

Gannet colonies are one of the UK's most spectacular wildlife spectacles, but individuals face welfare challenges from fishing line entanglement, plastic ingestion, and climate-driven prey shifts.

Key Facts

The UK holds approximately 70% of the world's northern gannet population
Gannets plunge-dive from heights of 30m to catch fish and are susceptible to net entanglement
Monofilament fishing line used as nesting material causes entanglement deaths of adults and chicks
Climate change is shifting prey fish northward, increasing travel distances from colonies to feeding grounds
Bass Rock in Scotland holds the world's largest gannet colony with over 150,000 birds

Welfare Considerations

Gannet welfare is threatened by fishing gear entanglement and climate-driven prey shifts. Reducing fishing gear in marine environments around colonies provides direct welfare benefit.

What You Can Do

Support campaigns to reduce monofilament fishing line disposal near seabird colonies
Donate to seabird monitoring organisations tracking gannet colony health
Advocate for protected marine areas around major gannet colonies
Raise awareness of fishing gear entanglement as a seabird welfare issue