Velvet scoters are uncommon wintering sea ducks on UK coasts with welfare dependent on marine invertebrate food supplies and undisturbed foraging habitat.
Velvet scoter welfare at UK wintering sites depends on access to productive shallow coastal habitats with abundant bivalve prey. Oil pollution causes feather waterproofing damage leading to hypothermia and death. Marine habitat degradation from bottom trawling reduces invertebrate communities. Disturbance from recreational boating at feeding sites causes energy-wasting flight. The small UK wintering population means each individual welfare outcome is ecologically significant. Marine protected areas providing undisturbed feeding habitat are among the most effective welfare interventions for this declining species.