Northern gannets nest in spectacular cliff colonies and are spectacular ocean hunters. UK colonies are among the largest in the world — their welfare is linked to sand eel and mackerel availability.
Gannets using plastic rope and fishing line as nesting material inadvertently strangle themselves and their chicks as the nest material tightens. Monofilament fishing line entanglement around wings and necks causes progressive injury and death. Chick starvation during poor sand eel years is a welfare event that can affect thousands of birds in a single season at major colonies. Reducing plastic pollution in marine environments and sustainable fisheries management both contribute to gannet welfare.