Puffin populations ‘will decline due to climate change’
A new report has raised concerns about the future of one of RSPB Bempton Cliffs’ favourite Birds – the puffin.
Puffins are one of the highlights for visitors to the popular nature reserve, along with gannets, kittiwakes, guillemots, razorbills and fulmars.
However, research from the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) predicts that puffin colonies in Britain and Ireland will likely decline significantly by 2050 as the result of future changes to the climate.
A BTO spokesperson said: “Puffins are one of 10 seabird species predicted to suffer long-term effects on their populations from climate change, as warming air and sea temperatures reduce food availability and drive extreme weather events. Other marine specialist seabirds are at significant risk too, with Arctic terns and fulmars facing startling declines.
“One of the greatest concerns for BTO scientists is the decline in sandeels, which are a major food source for many adult, and especially young, seabirds.
“The lack of these fish in nearby waters during the breeding season has resulted in poor productivity, as the adults fail to find enough food for their growing chicks. Over-fishing and changes in climate are significant drivers in the loss of the sandeels, particularly in the North Sea.
“An increase in extreme winter storms, exacerbated by climate change, has also resulted in high mortality of Puffins and other seabirds, as widely reported in early 2026.
“But all is not lost, and multiple organisations are working hard to better understand the many threats these amazing birds face and try to reverse the potentially catastrophic declines that are impacting these charismatic birds. Positive steps also include the banning of sandeels in Scottish and North Sea waters since 2024, which aims to help the recovery of this vital food-chain fish.”
Erin Taylor, Seabird Monitoring Programme organiser (SMP) at BTO, said: “The SMP’s efforts to continue to monitor Puffin populations throughout Britain and Ireland will allow us to track, in real time, the impacts of the ever-changing conditions that these birds face.” Nina O’Hanlon, senior research ecologist at BTO, added: “There are several fantastic projects working to change the fortunes of Puffins across the UK, from habitat management to removing non-native invasive predators. Monitoring Puffin numbers and breeding success is key to see how effective these actions are in increasing the resilience of this iconic seabird in the face of climate change.”