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Puffins: Conservation

Asked by Mr Angus MacDonaldLiberal DemocratDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled Answered 22 July 2025UIN 68272

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department is providing funding for research into puffin conservation.

Answered by Emma Hardy

Defra provides funding through JNCC to the UK-wide Seabird Monitoring Programme (SMP), and the JNCC-led Seabirds Count census which provide UK-wide monitoring for seabirds, including puffins. The results are publicly available and will inform future conservation actions.

The most recent Seabirds Count census (2023) counted 474,679 pairs of puffins. Where comparable data were available, they indicated declines of 23% since 2000, reinforcing the importance of collaboration on seabird conservation.

The devolved Governments are implementing their respective seabird conservation strategies, so we continue to work together to coordinate action and data sharing.

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