Seabirds in peril could be linked to poison algae

Water and plankton collected from seas off the east coast of Scotland are being analysed by experts in a bid to solve the mystery of why more than 1,000 dead seabirds have washed up in recent weeks.

An “unprecedented number” of seabirds – mostly guillemots and razorbills – have been found starved to death on beaches from Orkney down to the north and east of England since late August.

The Marine Scotland directorate of the Scottish Government has now collected water and plankton samples from the seas off eastern Scotland to investigate the possible presence of harmful algal species. An algal bloom said to be “the size of a large county” has been identified off the northeast coast.

Close to some key seabird feeding hotspots, one theory is that some of the beached birds may have been feeding there and picking up algal toxins via the food chain.

Samples collected by the Marine Protection Vessel Hirta are being analysed at the Scottish Government’s Marine Laboratory in Aberdeen to determine whether they contain toxic algae.

The Scottish Government said: “We are working closely with a range of other organisations to investigate a number of potential causes of this unusual event.”