Seabirds

• The seabird declines that commenced at the end of the last century have continued in the last decade.

• Climate change is considered to be one of the main causes of the declines. The principal mechanism is the effect of climate warming on their food supply.

• There is growing evidence that short-term weather conditions are having an important effect, including ex- treme weather events. Climate models are predicting further warming and increased severity and frequency of extreme weather events.

• Seabirds face an uncertain future and may decline further in the coming decades.