Management implications of interactions between fisheries and sandeel-dependent seabirds and seals in the North Sea

The lesser sandeel, Ammodytes marinus , is a key food for many seabirds and seals, and is also the target of the largest single-species fishery in the North Sea. Despite claims that sandeel fishing has harmed dependent predator populations, census data show that most seabirds and grey seals increased in numbers as the fishery grew and reached peak harvest. Generally high breeding success of black-legged kittiwakes at North Sea colonies also...