Seabird Population Trends and Causes of Change: 1986–2019 Report
The summary table of species-specific UK breeding seabird population trends was published on 29 April 2021; full species accounts were published on 20 May 2021.
UK breeding seabird population trends
The table below provides at-a-glance UK population trends (as percentage change in breeding numbers) from complete censuses undertaken in 1969-70 (Operation Seafarer), 1985-88 (Seabird Colony Register), and 1998–2002 (Seabird 2000). Change from 1998–2000 to 2019 (i.e. over the period since the last national census) is estimated from trends derived from the Seabird Monitoring Programme sample of colonies, or from census results where these are available; this analysis is only available for species with sufficient data to accurately estimate trends.
This report should be cited as: JNCC. 2021. Seabird Population Trends and Causes of Change: 1986–2019 Report (https://jncc.gov.uk/our-work/smp-report-1986-2019). Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Peterborough. Updated 20 May 2021.
| Species | Population change (%) 1969-70 to 1985-88 |
Population change (%) 1985-88 to 1998-2002 |
Population change (%) 2000-2019 |
| northern fulmar | +77 | -3 | -33 |
| Manx shearwater | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| European storm-petrel | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Leach's storm-petrel | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| northern gannet | +39 | +39* | +34** |
| great cormorant | +9 | +10 | +16 |
| European shag | +21 | -27 | -40 |
| Arctic skua | +226 | -37 | -70 |
| great skua | +148 | +26 | n/a |
| black-legged kittiwake | +24 | -25 | -29 |
| black-headed gull | +5 | 0 | +26 |
| Mediterranean gull | n/a | +10,900 | +327 |
| common gull | +25 | +36 | n/a |
| lesser black-backed gull | +29 | +40 | n/a |
| herring gull | -48 | -13 | n/a |
| great black-backed gull | -7 | -4 | -23 |
| little tern | +58 | -23 | -28 |
| Sandwich tern | +33 | -15 | +51 |
| common tern | +9 | -9 | -3 |
| roseate tern | -66 | -83 | +125 |
| Arctic tern | +50 | -31 | -5 |
| guillemot | +77 | +31 | +60 |
| razorbill | +16 | +21 | +37 |
| black guillemot | n/a | +3** | n/a |
| Atlantic puffin | +15 | +19 | n/a |
1 This figure has been revised since the initial release on 29 April 2021 to take into account additional data received since then by the SMP.
*change between censuses in 1984-85 and 2003-04.
**change between censuses in 2003-04 and 2013–2015.
n/a: insufficient sample size or extremely wide confidence limits, so figure not provided.
Information about the population status of the common birds of the wider UK countryside (updated to 2019) can be accessed via the BTO report Bird Trends: trends in numbers, breeding success and survival for UK breeding birds.
Previous reports
The report has been published online since 2009. Details of the previous reports are available through The National Archives website.
Seabird Population Trends and Causes of Change: 1986–2018 Report
Seabird Population Trends and Causes of Change: 1986–2015 Report
Seabird Population Trends and Causes of Change: 1986–2014 Report
Seabird Population Trends and Causes of Change: 1986–2013 Report
Seabird Population Trends and Causes of Change: 1986–2012 Report
Seabird Population Trends and Causes of Change: 2012 Report (provides results up to the year 2011)
Seabird Population Trends and Causes of Change: 2011 Report (provides results up to the year 2010)
Seabird Population Trends and Causes of Change: 2010 Report (provides results up to the year 2009)
Prior to 2009, these trends were published in 'Seabird numbers and breeding success in Britain and Ireland'. Copies of these reports are available on JNCC's Resource Hub.
Published: .