Story: Shags

Environmental dangers

Environmental dangers

When hunting for food underwater, shags are vulnerable to hidden dangers such as this fishing net. Abandoned nets are a particular threat: 14 drowned spotted shags were found entangled in this net by diver Graeme Loh. Other potential dangers include oil spills, predation at nests, and changes to the marine ecology that affect their foods. The increase in aquaculture around New Zealand’s coasts has raised concerns that poorly sited mussel farms can not only entrap the birds, but also alter the sea floor ecology, affecting their food source.

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Department of Conservation
Reference: 10053297

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How to cite this page:

Gerard Hutching, 'Shags - Yellow-footed shags', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/5417/environmental-dangers (accessed 29 March 2024)

Story by Gerard Hutching, published 12 Jun 2006, reviewed & revised 11 Jul 2016