Gannet  (Morus bassanus)

The gannet is not threatened at present, but is increasing in numbers. Large chicks were harvested at a number of sites in the past; this practice continues to the present day in a traditional hunt at one site in Scotland (8).

A number of the internationally important British breeding colonies occur within RSPB reserves, furthermore 98 % of the British breeding population (equivalent to 75% of the world population) occurs within Special Protection Areas (SPAs) (8).