15. January 2026 Seabirds are being pushed to the brink by human activity at sea. Now, researchers working closely with industry have developed a new tool designed to support better coexistence between seabirds and commercial activities in Norwegian waters.
13. January 2026 A new study published in Marine Biology reveals that black guillemots (Cepphus grylle) from two Norwegian colonies exhibit distinctly different migration strategies during the winter. The study documents their behaviour and habitat use outside the breeding season, and thereby provides crucial knowledge for conservation and management in coastal areas.
11. December 2025 A new study shows that seasonal increases in ocean temperatures can have dramatic consequences for many important seabird populations in the region.
2. October 2025 Well-established methods for monitoring seabird populations have provided solid data sampling for a long time, but they have certain shortfalls. Researchers from several countries have collaborated on outlining the possibilities and limitations of new technologies in seabird monitoring, and their recently published article presents recommendations for monitoring programmes that consider applying them.
19. March 2025 When Norwegian journalists need an expert statement about any species of seabird, they are likely to call Tone Reiertsen. She is a veritable gold mine of information about auks and gulls, yet her academic career started with a very common little garden bird.
29. November 2024 A new report reveals numerous knowledge gaps concerning possible effects of seaweed harvesting on seabirds and shorebirds in Norway. Stakeholders call for stricter regulations.
1. November 2024 The first quantitative assessment of microplastics in seabird faeces in Northern Europe shows presence of microplastics in European shag (Gulosus aristotelis) chicks. This provides valuable baseline information and confirms that minimal-invasive sampling of faeces for plastic monitoring in seabirds is possible.
17. September 2024 By using a combination of different modelling techniques, researchers in SEAPOP have gained detailed insights into how environmental pollutants and climate change may affect the black-backed gull population on Hornøya, both directly and indirectly.
31. May 2024 Groundbreaking study uses seabirds as indicators of mercury presence through the North-Atlantic Arctic. Results of grave importance for Arctic communities as concentrations increase from the Barents Sea to the East coast of Canada.
7. May 2024 In only four decades more than 80% of kittiwakes breeding on the coast of the Norwegian mainland have disappeared. More than 60% of all seabird species in Norway are now endangered. In this photographic journey through shifting baselines we clearly see the dramatic changes
8. March 2024 Researchers have investigated differences in diet and spatial distribution of Atlantic puffins and black-legged kittiwakes from Røst in the non-breeding season. The results show that even birds of the same species from the same colony may choose different strategies after leaving the nest sites.
15. January 2024 SEATRACK-data used to study the relationship between wind patterns and migrating movements.
4. January 2024 New indicator for status of seabirds combines population size, adult survival and breeding success.
24. October 2023 With an aim to identify the characteristics of the best foraging areas for black guillemots (Cepphus grylle), researchers in SEAPOP have studied foraging behaviour and habitat use of black guillemots at three breeding locations along the Norwegian coast. Although differences in foraging activity and habitat use were found, one parameter in particular stood out as the most important.
24. May 2023 Mercury is known to have an adverse effect on animal wildlife, and mercury contamination has increased through anthropogenic inputs. A new study examines the mercury exposure and the potential health risks for 36 Arctic seabirds and shorebirds.
28. March 2023 Successful breeding is crucial, but climate change can make timing of breeding more demanding. A new study including data from several colonies monitored throughout the SEAPOP programme has now examined how seabirds adjust their breeding phenology.
6. March 2023 Negative trends for populations with low productivity can be somewhat mitigated by adults living longer.
21. October 2022 Using a comprehensive set of tracking data from five seabird species in the North Atlantic and a model for estimating energy consumption, researchers have investigated how severe winter storms may impact the seabird community and eventually lead to seabird mass mortality.
18. May 2022 Human activity in the coastal zone is increasing worldwide, including Norway. Aquaculture, kelp harvesting, fisheries, increasing boat and ship traffic present sources of disturbance and pose a variety of potential threats to seabirds.
16. February 2022 By using a more than 100-year-old record of a puffin Fratercula arctica chick harvest on Iceland, researchers have found a relationship between ocean temperatures and production of puffin chicks.