Wildlife

Atlantic Puffin Welfare: Climate Change and Food Availability

The Atlantic puffin faces serious welfare and population challenges from climate-driven changes to sand eel and prey fish availability in the North Atlantic.

Key Facts

Atlantic puffin colonies in the UK have declined significantly at some sites due to poor breeding success
Sand eels are a critical food source for breeding puffins and their chicks
North Atlantic warming is shifting sand eel distribution northward, away from established colonies
UK populations are estimated at around 580,000 pairs but some colonies show persistent breeding failure

Welfare Considerations

Chick starvation during periods of poor sand eel availability causes direct welfare suffering and contributes to population decline. Adults are forced to fly further to find food, increasing energy expenditure and injury risk. Avian influenza outbreaks have caused significant adult mortality in some colonies. Plastic ingestion by adults feeding chicks causes sub-lethal welfare impacts.

What You Can Do

Support campaigns for better management of sand eel fisheries in the North Sea
Donate to seabird conservation organisations monitoring puffin colony health
Reduce plastic use to limit ocean pollution affecting puffin feeding grounds
Advocate for marine protected areas around key puffin breeding colonies