Roaming seabirds need ocean-wide protection, research shows
Unlike other oceans, which are known to have specific “hotspots” where predators, including seabirds, gather in large numbers to feed, the Indian Ocean lacks such concentrated feeding areas, a recent paper has revealed. This lack of hotspots is particularly concerning given the various threats seabirds face due to human activities.
The paper analysed tracking data on nine seabird species during their non-breeding periods. The data showed that these birds, which primarily feed on small fish, are significantly impacted by human activities like climate change, overfishing, and pollution.
“As the birds roam widely and spend much of their time outside national waters, we need international action – like the recent High Seas Treaty – to protect them,” said Dr. Alice Trevail, the lead author. “No country can act in isolation to protect these birds.”