Wildlife

Gannet Welfare at UK Seacliff Colonies in 2026

Gannets breed in spectacular dense colonies on UK sea stacks and cliffs with welfare considerations around colony density, entanglement in fishing gear and climate impacts on prey.

Key Facts

The UK holds approximately 60% of the global gannet population
Bass Rock in Scotland supports around 75000 gannet pairs
Gannets dive from heights of up to 30m reaching speeds of 100kmh when plunge-diving
Entanglement in discarded fishing line and rope is a significant colony mortality cause
Avian influenza outbreaks in 2022-2024 caused catastrophic mortality at many UK gannet colonies

Welfare Considerations

Gannet welfare at colonies is affected by entanglement in fishing debris incorporated into nests. Rope and nylon line wraps around the neck of young gannets causing strangulation as they grow. Avian influenza outbreaks caused mass mortality with severe welfare implications for individuals and devastating population impacts at some colonies. Climate change is altering prey fish availability requiring longer foraging trips and reducing chick provisioning success.

What You Can Do

Remove discarded fishing line from beaches to reduce gannet entanglement risk
Visit gannet colonies from boat tours or coastal paths without disturbing the colony
Support avian influenza surveillance and monitoring at seabird colonies
Donate to seabird conservation organisations including JNCC and RSPB
Report sick or dead gannets to APHA for disease surveillance purposes