Wildlife

Great Skua Welfare at Seabird Colonies

The great skua (bonxie) breeds on Scottish moorland and northern isles, dependent on seabird prey. Changing prey availability and legal conflicts over management are welfare concerns.

Key Facts

Scotland hosts 60% of the worlds breeding great skuas, primarily on Orkney and Shetland
They are generalist predators feeding on other seabirds, fish, and carrion
Sandeel collapse in the North Sea has dramatically reduced prey and breeding success
They are legally protected but land managers argue for management to protect other breeding birds
Climate change is shifting sandeel distribution away from traditional foraging areas

Welfare Considerations

Great skua welfare is primarily affected by prey availability, which has collapsed with North Sea sandeel stocks. Breeding failure from food shortage causes adult birds to work extreme distances and times to provision failing chicks. The resulting chick starvation represents significant welfare harm across the population. Restoring sandeel stock abundance through fishing restrictions would benefit great skua welfare alongside many other seabird species.

What You Can Do

Support Marine Conservation Zone designations protecting sandeel aggregations
Advocate for fishing restriction on sandeels to allow prey stock recovery
Donate to RSPB Orkney and Shetland conservation programmes including skua monitoring
Participate in seabird monitoring on northern isles reserves to track great skua breeding success