Wildlife Conservation

Wild Red-breasted Merganser Conservation

Red-breasted mergansers breed along Scottish and Welsh rivers and coasts, diving for fish in clear, clean water. Their welfare depends on clean, fish-rich waterways.

Key Facts

Red-breasted mergansers breed in upland rivers and coastal areas of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
They are serrated-billed diving ducks that pursue fish underwater at high speed
Mergansers are sometimes blamed for reducing salmon and trout stocks and face persecution in some areas
UK populations are largely stable but vulnerable to water quality decline and illegal killing
Conflict with anglers over fish stocks creates welfare threats from illegal persecution

Welfare Considerations

Red-breasted merganser welfare is threatened by illegal persecution driven by fish stock competition with anglers. Legal protection and evidence-based assessment of actual fish stock impacts are needed.

What You Can Do

Report any suspected illegal killing of mergansers or other protected birds
Support evidence-based research on merganser impacts on fish populations rather than persecution
Record merganser sightings to support population monitoring