The red-breasted merganser is a sawbill duck that breeds on Scottish rivers and lochs and winters widely on UK coastal waters.
Red-breasted merganser welfare is affected by both direct persecution and habitat quality. Historical shooting under license at fisheries was controversial and its population impact debated. Legal protection under the Wildlife and Countryside Act provides some security. Breeding pairs on river systems require fish-rich clear water and undisturbed nesting habitat. Mink predation of nests and chicks affects breeding success on some river systems. Coastal wintering populations need access to productive estuarine food resources. Oil pollution events affect coastal wintering birds. Maintaining clean, fish-rich rivers through catchment management benefits mergansers and the entire suite of clean-water specialist species they depend on.