Marine waste, and more specifically plastic waste, is also a major pressure on this environment and its species. The average time a plastic bag is used is 20 minutes, with degradation in the environment (into micro and then nano particles of plastic) lasting an estimated 500 years. These anthropogenic pressures come on top of natural ones, such as storms and disease.
This year, an H5N1 variant of avian flu is having a particular impact on seabirds. Northern gannets are particularly hard hit by this unprecedentedly virulent crisis. In just a few months, the Seven Islands colony was decimated by the pandemic. Against this backdrop, it is more important than ever to spare the avifauna during this difficult period. While we can’t do anything about avian flu, we can do something about the pressures we put on our environment.
The LPO has put together a FAQ on avian flu, so don’t hesitate to consult it to learn more about the subject.
