The Isle of Man Seabird Census 2017–18

The Isle of Man Seabird Census 2017–18 was the first full survey of the Island’s breeding seabirds in nearly 20 years.

Co-funded by the Department for Environment, Food and Agriculture (DEFA), and supported by the Walney Extension Offshore Wind Farm Project and the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company, this ambitious project brought together 68 organisations and individuals from across the Island.

Over two years, the Census team logged nearly 1,000 hours at sea

The last comprehensive censuses were carried out in 1985–86 by Allen Moore and again in 1999 by Chris Sharpe and Aron Sapsford, as part of the Manx Bird Atlas studies. This most recent effort built on their work and aimed to provide an up-to-date snapshot of the Island’s seventeen breeding seabird species.

Over two years, the Census team logged nearly 1,000 hours at sea — the equivalent of circling the Island ten times — recording more than 10,000 seabirds and their nests.

The findings paint a mixed picture

Eight species have seen worrying declines, with some populations dropping by as much as 82%. The Northern Fulmar, European Shag, Razorbill, Black Guillemot, and Black-legged Kittiwake have all suffered major losses, as have the three main gull species: Lesser Black-backed, Herring, and Great Black-backed Gulls. The Puffin, once a familiar sight, has nearly vanished from the Island altogether. Hopes now rest on a re-establishment programme on the Calf of Man.

On a more positive note

Three species — the Manx Shearwater, Cormorant, and Common Guillemot — have shown promising increases. And thanks to the dedicated work of DEFA wardens, the Island’s only two nesting Tern species — Arctic and Little Terns — have been successfully maintained on the north coast.

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Overall, the Census reveals that the total number of seabirds around the Island has dropped by more than half.

This decline is a stark warning

For a nation so closely tied to the sea, this decline is a stark warning. It suggests that our marine and coastal environments are struggling to support wildlife as they once did.

There’s no single cause — from habitat loss to changes in the food chain and the effects of climate change, the pressures are many. Reversing these trends won’t be easy, but protecting nesting sites, restoring ecosystems, and tackling climate impacts are essential steps.

Seabird populations

The results of the 2017–18 Census contribute to the UK-wide Seabirds Count project, led by the Seabird Monitoring Partnership, helping build a clearer picture of seabird populations across the British Isles.

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