Wildlife

Seabird Bycatch Welfare: Razorbills, Guillemots, and Nets

Seabird bycatch in fishing nets causes drowning and is a significant but poorly quantified source of mortality for diving seabirds including razorbills and guillemots in UK waters.

Key Facts

Diving seabirds including auks are vulnerable to entanglement in gillnets and trawl warp cables
UK seabird bycatch estimated at tens of thousands of birds annually
Scaring devices and net illumination can reduce bycatch in some fisheries
Observer coverage of UK fishing vessels is insufficient to accurately quantify bycatch
EU Birds Directive and UK legislation require mitigation but enforcement is limited

Welfare Considerations

Seabirds drowned in fishing nets experience underwater panic and struggling before death by drowning. The welfare impact of bycatch on individual birds is severe. At population level, bycatch contributes to declines of already-stressed seabird populations. Mandatory observer coverage and gear modifications are welfare-positive and achievable.

What You Can Do

Support RSPB and BirdLife campaigns for mandatory seabird bycatch mitigation
Choose MSC-certified fish that requires bycatch monitoring and reduction
Advocate for improved observer coverage on UK fishing vessels
Support development of seabird deterrent technology for UK fisheries
Report any seabirds found drowned on beaches to BTO or RSPB strandings scheme