Wildlife

Wild Common Scoter Coastal Welfare

Common scoters are large sea ducks facing population decline from oil spills, bycatch, and food competition with commercial fisheries.

Key Facts

Common scoters are diving sea ducks feeding on cockles and other bivalves
UK breeding population is tiny - fewer than 100 pairs in Scotland
Wintering birds from Scandinavia number tens of thousands at coastal staging sites
Oil spills cause acute mortality through fouling of waterproofing feathers
Bycatch in gill nets and illegal fishing cause significant mortality

Welfare Considerations

Common scoter welfare at wintering sites is affected by oil pollution and bycatch. Oiled birds experience hypothermia and starvation as waterproofing fails. Bycatch in fishing gear causes drowning. Marine protected areas at key wintering sites and enforcement against illegal fishing nets reduce these welfare costs.

What You Can Do

Support marine pollution prevention campaigns protecting seabird wintering areas
Advocate for marine protected area designation at key scoter wintering sites
Contribute to seabird monitoring recording scoter population trends