Description of Seabirds:
Seabirds are a vital part of marine ecosystems and valuable indicators of an ecosystem’s status. Seabirds are attracted to fishing vessels and frequently get hooked or entangled in fishing gear, especially longline fisheries. This is a common threat to seabirds. Depending on the geographic region, fishermen in the United States often interact with albatross, cormorants, gannet, loons, pelicans, puffins, gulls, storm-petrels, shearwaters, terns, and many other species. We track seabirds because of their importance to marine food webs, but also as an indication of efficient fishing practices. We present estimates of seabird abundance in the Alaska, California Current, Gulf of Mexico and Northeast regions.
Data:
Data for Alaska, California Current, and the Gulf of Mexico were obtained from the regional NOAA Integrated Ecosystem Assessment Program teams that produce indicators and Ecosystem Status Report. For more information see https://www.integratedecosystemassessment.noaa.gov/. Seabird count and transect length data for the Northeast were extracted from the Atlantic Marine Assessment Program for Protected Species (AMAPPS) annual reports. Counts were summed and divided by the sum of the transect length in nautical miles. For more information see https://www.nefsc.noaa.gov/psb/AMAPPS/
Alaska
East Bering Sea subregion
Description of time series:
During the last five years the seabird breeding index shows a significant downward trend.
Description of gauge:
The Gauge value of 13 indicates that over the last five years, the seabird breeding index is much lower than the median value.
Description of Seabirds:
Seabirds are a vital part of marine ecosystems and valuable indicators of an ecosystem’s status. Seabirds are attracted to fishing vessels and frequently get hooked or entangled in fishing gear, especially longline fisheries. This is a common threat to seabirds. Depending on the geographic region, fishermen in the United States often interact with albatross, cormorants, gannet, loons, pelicans, puffins, gulls, storm-petrels, shearwaters, terns, and many other species. We track seabirds because of their importance to marine food webs, but also as an indication of efficient fishing practices. We present estimates of seabird abundance in the Alaska, California Current, Gulf of Mexico and Northeast regions.
Overall Scores means the following:
- 0 - 10: The five-year seabirds average is very low compared to the median value.
- 10 - 25: The five-year seabirds average is much lower than the median value.
- 25 - 50: The five-year seabirds average is lower than the median value.
- 50: The five-year seabirds average equals the median value.
- 50 - 75: The five-year seabirds average is higher than the median value.
- 75 - 90: The five-year seabirds average is much higher than the median value.
- 90 - 100: The five-year seabirds average is very high compared to the median value.
Data:
Data for Alaska, California Current, and the Gulf of Mexico were obtained from the regional NOAA Integrated Ecosystem Assessment Program teams that produce indicators and Ecosystem Status Report. For more information see https://www.integratedecosystemassessment.noaa.gov/. Seabird count and transect length data for the Northeast were extracted from the Atlantic Marine Assessment Program for Protected Species (AMAPPS) annual reports. Counts were summed and divided by the sum of the transect length in nautical miles. For more information see https://www.nefsc.noaa.gov/psb/AMAPPS/
California Current
Cassin’s Auklet Spring Southern California Current
Description of time series:
During the last five years the seabird density anomaly shows no significant trend.
Description of gauge:
The Gauge value of 47 indicates that over the last five years, the seabird density anomaly is lower than the median value.
Description of Seabirds:
Seabirds are a vital part of marine ecosystems and valuable indicators of an ecosystem’s status. Seabirds are attracted to fishing vessels and frequently get hooked or entangled in fishing gear, especially longline fisheries. This is a common threat to seabirds. Depending on the geographic region, fishermen in the United States often interact with albatross, cormorants, gannet, loons, pelicans, puffins, gulls, storm-petrels, shearwaters, terns, and many other species. We track seabirds because of their importance to marine food webs, but also as an indication of efficient fishing practices. We present estimates of seabird abundance in the Alaska, California Current, Gulf of Mexico and Northeast regions.
Overall Scores means the following:
- 0 - 10: The five-year seabirds average is very low compared to the median value.
- 10 - 25: The five-year seabirds average is much lower than the median value.
- 25 - 50: The five-year seabirds average is lower than the median value.
- 50: The five-year seabirds average equals the median value.
- 50 - 75: The five-year seabirds average is higher than the median value.
- 75 - 90: The five-year seabirds average is much higher than the median value.
- 90 - 100: The five-year seabirds average is very high compared to the median value.
Data:
Data for Alaska, California Current, and the Gulf of Mexico were obtained from the regional NOAA Integrated Ecosystem Assessment Program teams that produce indicators and Ecosystem Status Report. For more information see https://www.integratedecosystemassessment.noaa.gov/. Seabird count and transect length data for the Northeast were extracted from the Atlantic Marine Assessment Program for Protected Species (AMAPPS) annual reports. Counts were summed and divided by the sum of the transect length in nautical miles. For more information see https://www.nefsc.noaa.gov/psb/AMAPPS/
Gulf of Mexico
Description of time series:
During the last five years the seabird relative abundance shows no significant trend.
Description of gauge:
The Gauge value of 26 indicates that over the last five years, the seabird relative abundance is much lower than the median value.
Description of Seabirds:
Seabirds are a vital part of marine ecosystems and valuable indicators of an ecosystem’s status. Seabirds are attracted to fishing vessels and frequently get hooked or entangled in fishing gear, especially longline fisheries. This is a common threat to seabirds. Depending on the geographic region, fishermen in the United States often interact with albatross, cormorants, gannet, loons, pelicans, puffins, gulls, storm-petrels, shearwaters, terns, and many other species. We track seabirds because of their importance to marine food webs, but also as an indication of efficient fishing practices. We present estimates of seabird abundance in the Alaska, California Current, Gulf of Mexico and Northeast regions.
Overall Scores means the following:
- 0 - 10: The five-year seabirds average is very low compared to the median value.
- 10 - 25: The five-year seabirds average is much lower than the median value.
- 25 - 50: The five-year seabirds average is lower than the median value.
- 50: The five-year seabirds average equals the median value.
- 50 - 75: The five-year seabirds average is higher than the median value.
- 75 - 90: The five-year seabirds average is much higher than the median value.
- 90 - 100: The five-year seabirds average is very high compared to the median value.
Data:
Data for Alaska, California Current, and the Gulf of Mexico were obtained from the regional NOAA Integrated Ecosystem Assessment Program teams that produce indicators and Ecosystem Status Report. For more information see https://www.integratedecosystemassessment.noaa.gov/. Seabird count and transect length data for the Northeast were extracted from the Atlantic Marine Assessment Program for Protected Species (AMAPPS) annual reports. Counts were summed and divided by the sum of the transect length in nautical miles. For more information see https://www.nefsc.noaa.gov/psb/AMAPPS/
Northeast
Description of time series:
During the last five years the seabird count per nautical mile shows no significant trend.
Description of gauge:
The Gauge value of 71 indicates that over the last five years, the seabird count per nautical mile is much higher than the median value.
Description of Seabirds:
Seabirds are a vital part of marine ecosystems and valuable indicators of an ecosystem’s status. Seabirds are attracted to fishing vessels and frequently get hooked or entangled in fishing gear, especially longline fisheries. This is a common threat to seabirds. Depending on the geographic region, fishermen in the United States often interact with albatross, cormorants, gannet, loons, pelicans, puffins, gulls, storm-petrels, shearwaters, terns, and many other species. We track seabirds because of their importance to marine food webs, but also as an indication of efficient fishing practices. We present estimates of seabird abundance in the Alaska, California Current, Gulf of Mexico and Northeast regions.
Overall Scores means the following:
- 0 - 10: The five-year seabirds average is very low compared to the median value.
- 10 - 25: The five-year seabirds average is much lower than the median value.
- 25 - 50: The five-year seabirds average is lower than the median value.
- 50: The five-year seabirds average equals the median value.
- 50 - 75: The five-year seabirds average is higher than the median value.
- 75 - 90: The five-year seabirds average is much higher than the median value.
- 90 - 100: The five-year seabirds average is very high compared to the median value.
Data:
Data for Alaska, California Current, and the Gulf of Mexico were obtained from the regional NOAA Integrated Ecosystem Assessment Program teams that produce indicators and Ecosystem Status Report. For more information see https://www.integratedecosystemassessment.noaa.gov/. Seabird count and transect length data for the Northeast were extracted from the Atlantic Marine Assessment Program for Protected Species (AMAPPS) annual reports. Counts were summed and divided by the sum of the transect length in nautical miles. For more information see https://www.nefsc.noaa.gov/psb/AMAPPS/
Resources
Atlantic Marine Assessment Program for Protected Species
We conduct surveys and develop abundance and distribution models to better understand how protected species such as whales, dolphins, and sea turtles use our waters.