Eight out of ten northern fulmars have plastic in their stomachs

A new study of fulmars in Northern Norway, Central Norway, Iceland and East Greenland shows that 81 percent of these seabirds have plastic in their stomachs, writes the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA).

A total of 507 fulmars were examined between 2018 and 2024. The study was conducted in collaboration with fishermen who catch the birds as incidental bycatch.

The researchers also found that fulmars from Northern Norway and Eastern Greenland had more plastic particles than birds from Iceland. At the same time, the plastic particles found in fulmars from Iceland were, on average, heavier than those found in birds from Northern Norway.

One possible explanation is that plastic transported northwards by ocean currents gradually breaks down into increasingly smaller fragments over time.

"We still know too little about how long plastic remains in fulmars and how harmful it is to the birds," says Nina Dehnhard, Senior Researcher at NINA.