Wildlife

Razorbill Welfare and North Atlantic Seabird Conservation

The razorbill is the closest living relative of the extinct great auk and breeds on UK sea cliffs, facing similar threats to other auks from oil pollution, prey depletion, and avian influenza.

Key Facts

Closer to the great auk than any living seabird, sharing the same family
UK population of around 130,000 pairs concentrated on northern and western coasts
Like guillemots they lay a single egg on bare rock ledge
Spend the non-breeding season far out to sea in the North Atlantic
Vulnerable to entanglement in fishing nets as a diving species

Welfare Considerations

Razorbill welfare reflects the health of North Atlantic marine ecosystems. Bycatch in fishing nets causes drowning. Oil spills cause prolonged suffering. Sand eel depletion reduces chick survival. Long-lived seabirds that take years to reach breeding age cannot rapidly replace population losses, making welfare of breeding adults particularly important.

What You Can Do

Choose MSC-certified fish from low-bycatch fisheries
Support campaigns for mandatory bycatch reduction technology on fishing vessels
Donate to RSPB seabird colony monitoring
Advocate for marine protected areas around key razorbill breeding sites
Report any dead or sick razorbills to RSPB or BTO