Fersiwn Gymraeg ar gael yma
New census results (the first published in over 20 years) paints a worrisome picture of UK seabird population health, even prior to the outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI). RSPB Cymru takes a look into what this means for Wales and the actions required to safeguard seabirds.
What is a Seabird Count?
At the time of the last seabird census (Seabird 2000, 1998 to 2002, and published in 2004), over 8 million seabirds bred in Britain and Ireland each year. Since then, evidence that many of our species have declined have emerged. To understand how seabird populations are changing, another complete census – Seabirds Count – has been undertaken.
Census data is essential for assessing seabird population health and vital for understanding the conservation status of our internationally important seabirds, the effects of climate change on marine environments, and to inform marine planning. The Seabirds Count census ran from 2015 to 2021. Across the UK, over 10,000 sites and 25 species were surveyed to provide a comprehensive update on the state of these populations and gain greater insight into the relationships between them and the pressures they face.
The survey was led by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) with over 20 steering group partners, including Natural Resources Wales (NRW). Key partners who spearheaded the work to collect and publish the findings are JNCC, the RSPB, Birdwatch Ireland and the National Parks and Wildlife Service (Ireland).
(Puffins - Colin Wilkinson)
What are the results at a UK-level?
The census reveals almost half of seabird species that breed in the UK, Ireland, Isle of Man and the Channel Isles have declined over the past 20 years, whilst just five have clearly increased. The causes of decline vary between species and regions but are likely linked to increased pressure on seabird populations from threats such as climate change, fisheries and development at sea. Nonetheless, thanks to successful conservation interventions, some species have increased at some sites. Whether this remains the case needs to be evaluated; especially as the census does not account for the devastating impact of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in 2021/2022.
What are the results for Wales?
The results for Wales show:
Some serious declines for species such as Cormorant (-17%), Kittiwake (-34%), Shag (-29%) and Fulmar (-27%)
The main drivers for declining populations vary between species and even location, however there are some common themes. Climate change is an important factor, as increased storminess can cause nest sites to be swept away during storms, making foraging conditions more difficult. Increased seawater temperatures could also be reducing the availability of important food, such as sandeels, to some seabird species (for example, those that can’t dive, like Kittiwakes, and depend on picking food close to the surface).
In parts of the UK, particularly the North Sea, evidence suggests that some species such as Kittiwake are also being dramatically affected by human activities. These include poorly located offshore wind developments and commercial sandeel fisheries. Moreover, thousands of Fulmars are killed each year in long-line fisheries, primarily in Scottish waters. The Welsh Government should learn from this and take preventative action particularly as Welsh seas become increasingly busy with human activities.
The Welsh Government has already committed to developing a Seabird Conservation Strategy. It is vital that this is published early next year and provides dedicated funding for seabird conservation. In addition, the Welsh Government should:
(Gannet - Maggie Sheddan)
An increase in the relative importance of Wales for some seabird species
Compared with the last census, Wales has become more important than before for some species. For example, Wales now holds a greater share of the UK’s Guillemots, Razorbills and Puffins. Wales has also seen an increase in its relative importance for tern species at the UK level – especially Little Tern (3.5% to 9.8% of the total) and Arctic Tern (3% to 12%), which provides fantastic evidence of how conservation effort is making a difference.
However, some of the increases in the relative importance of Wales for seabirds may be down to crashes elsewhere in the UK. For example, Scotland’s Puffin populations have declined by 32%. Whilst the increase in Puffins in Wales since 2000 offer a glimmer of hope, this recovery must be viewed in the context of historic declines; the numbers remain below pre-1939 levels. Furthermore, the population is limited to a small number of colonies in Wales; are all of our eggs in one basket? The resilience of this population is not as great as it would be with a greater range of breeding sites. Especially as globally, Atlantic Puffins are vulnerable to extinction. The Welsh Government, with a greater responsibility for the future of seabird populations, must proactively seek to enhance these further.
A picture of seabird population health prior to Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza
Since the census was completed, much like the rest of the UK, Wales seabirds have been subjected to a severe outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI). High mortality has been seen in several previously increasing seabird species such as Northern Gannets. RSPB Grassholm in Wales revealed a shocking 52% decline in the Gannet population there, bringing it down to a low not seen since 1969. The overall impact of HPAI on seabird populations is yet to be estimated and we await analysis of new data from 2023. The results of the census come at a critical time, creating a baseline for conservationists to better understand the continuing impacts of HPAI going forward, as well as being able to prioritise and measure the effectiveness of conservation actions in our seabird colonies.
(Title image - Sandwich terns - Chris Gomersal)