There are a number of worrying trends in the breeding success of northern seabirds, including puffins and kittiwakes that may well be linked to major changes in the marine food webs. Three articles highlighting the changes to northern seas and the impact on seabirds

1.  They are called seabirds for a reason – Adam Nicholson

Save Scottish Seas: Adam Nicholson; New documentary footage shows why protecting and recovering our seas will help our struggling seabirds. It was a graphic reminder of just how urgent it is that we address declines in our seabird populations. As part of a BBC documentary exploring Scotland’s dependence on seabirds and the threats they face, Adam Nicolson journeyed to a cliff-face on Orkney. A black and white photo from the 1980s at Marwick Head showed each ledge packed with kittiwake nests, a high rise flat for literally hundreds of seabirds. But now the ledges being filmed were bare, the white gauno the only trace for the history books. Kittiwake populations have plummeted on these cliffs by 90% in just 30 years. These populations are in trouble, but in other places – famed for huge and vital seabird populations – the seabirds have quite simply disappeared. To read more and see a video click here.

2.  A vulnerability assessment of fish and invertebrates to climate change on the northeast U.S, continental shelf

Climate change is having an impact on marine fish and invertebrates worldwide and these impacts will continue for the foreseeable future. It is difficult to quantify in detail the impact of climate due to the lack of sufficient understanding and scientific infrastructure. Vulnerability assessments, however, allow evaluations of climate impacts over a broad range of species. A climate vulnerability assessment in the Northeast U.S. Shelf found that the overall climate vulnerability is high to very high for approximately half the species assessed. In addition, the majority of species included in the assessment have a high potential for a change in distribution in response to projected changes in climate. These results will inform research and management activities. 

3.  Iceland’s Seabird Colonies Are Vanishing, With “Massive” Chick Deaths August 28^th 2014

Climate and ocean changes blamed for huge losses of puffins, kittiwakes, and terns. Cheryl Katz, for Environmental Health News And on the Westman Islands off Iceland’s south coast—home to the world’s largest Atlantic puffin colony—breeding has been a “total failure” since 2005, according to the South Iceland Nature Center.