Namibia’s Endangered Seabirds
Namibia- A Former Paradise for Seabirds
Seabirds play a vital role in marine and coastal ecosystems, keeping fish stocks in balance, feeding top predators and even helping cycle nutrients in the environment.
With the cold, nutrient-rich Benguela Current flowing along the Namibian and South African coastline, one of the world’s most productive and noisiest marine ecosystems comes to life. Teeming with an extraordinary wealth of marine wildlife, these waters offer an abundant and diverse feeding ground for countless seabirds. Around Namibia’s offshore islands, the air is usually alive with the cheerful chatter of hundreds of thousands of seabirds.
But now, the lively bustle is beginning to fade. Once thriving on the Benguela current’s natural richness, many species of seabirds now face alarming population declines. Human activities, ranging from overfishing and habitat disruption to pollution and climate change, have taken its toll on several seabird species found in Namibian waters. The IUCN red list - globally leading indicator for the population health of species and their conservation status - now classifies them as Endangered or even Critically Endangered.
African Penguin
The first one on the list and maybe the cutest of all the birds listed here is the African Penguin. Not only is it the only penguin on the African continent, but it is now also the most endangered species of penguins in the world. We have lost about 97% of their population within the last century, which warrants the species’ classification as critically endangered. This penguin may be lost in the wild by 2035, if nothing changes. Their disappearance would not only harm marine ecosystems, but also ecotourism in Namibia and South Africa, which is dependent on this adorable species.
(Click here for our fact sheet on African Penguins)
Cape Gannet
Cape Gannets are easy to spot with their bright yellow and white colours and an impressive wingspan of nearly two meters. They often form large feeding groups around trawling vessels and can travel up to 4000 km all the way to Nigeria or Benin. These birds are highly sociable, breeding in colonies of up to 10000 pairs. Once thriving in Namibia, they are now endangered globally and critically endangered in Namibia with 95% of the remaining population breeding on three South African islands
Cape Cormorant
This black, glossy bird with a bright yellow throat pouch can travel up to 1400 km and be seen in kilometer-long, low-flying flocks over the sea. Cape Cormorants form colonies of up to 120.000 birds and many breed on man made guano islands near Walvis Bay and Swakopmund. Although often seen in large numbers, they have faced a population decline of over 50% since 1980. This now makes them globally endangered
Bank Cormorant
The Bank cormorant looks like a Cape cormorant but is a bit bulkier and bigger without the yellow throat pouch. As they are reliant on the presence of kelp beds for foraging, they rarely travel farther than 150 km. Rarely found with 7500 individuals, 80 - 90% of their population breeds on Namibia’s Mercury and Ichaboe island. They are considered endangered because of a 63% population decline since 1980.
Atlantic Yellow-nosed Albatross
This pelagic bird is relatively small for an albatross, having a yellow-orange stripe along the top ridge of adults’ bill. It breeds on Gough and Tristan da Cunha islands in the South Atlantic, where it can almost entirely be found between South America and southern Africa, foraging on the open ocean. Scientists state a past & future (estimated) population decline of 50-79% in the years 1983 - 2055 due to which it is listed as endangered.
Current Threats For Endangered Species
The threats facing seabirds in Namibia are often complex and come from many sources- most of them linked to human activity. Overfishing is one of the biggest problems, as it reduces the birds’ main food sources, especially sardines and anchovies. All seabird species in this region are affected, having to compete directly with fishing operations for survival.
Birds that breed on Namibian islands still suffer from historical guano harvesting, which robbed them of the materials they needed to build safe nests. They continue to face dangers from predators like seals, gulls, and even land-based animals, while climate change adds further pressure, causing extreme weather events that force birds to abandon their nests.
Oil pollution is another major threat. Whether from illegal dumping of fish oil or spills from ships, oil damages the birds’ waterproofing. This leaves them unable to float or stay warm, leading to drowning, dehydration, or starvation.
Bycatch is also a serious concern. Species like the bank cormorant are often caught in trawl nets, while ocean-going birds like the yellow-nosed albatross frequently get hooked in longline fisheries. Unfortunately, this is hard to monitor due to poor enforcement and lack of observers at sea. Namibia’s state-owned Fisheries Observer Agency (FOA) is currently understaffed and underfunded, making it difficult to collect reliable data or properly oversee fishing practices.
Another problem is human disturbance. In the past, settlements on offshore islands reduced available breeding space. Today, uncontrolled tourism continues to disturb nesting areas—especially for critically endangered species like the African Penguin. Some birds - for example the Cape Gannet - were even collected in the past for food and bait. On top of that, many seabird species are now suffering from disease, entanglement in marine debris, and poisoning from harmful algal blooms.
Can We Still Save Them From Going Extinct?
Protecting these seabirds is a shared responsibility and it begins with actions at the individual level. There are many simple ways you can help seabirds.
Reduce your plastic use, which helps prevent pollution in the ocean.
Choose sustainable seafood to avoid supporting overfishing.
Respect nesting and breeding areas by keeping your distance.
Join beach cleanups and spread awareness by talking about endangered seabirds or sharing their stories online.
You can also support conservation efforts through donations or volunteering.
Some well-established organizations have already dedicated their resources to protect these birds.
NAMCOB (The Namibian Foundation for the Conservation of Seabirds
operates in the Namibia Islands Marine Protected Area (NIMPA) and focuses on protecting seabirds and their habitats.
SANCCOB (The South African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds
specializes in the rescue, care, and rehabilitation of seabirds in need.
Ocean Conservation Namibia is actively involved, especially in Swakopmund and Walvis Bay, as the local contact point for injured or distressed seabirds.
However, all of these efforts only treat the symptoms of a much bigger issue. Real, lasting change can only happen if governments step up to provide the right laws, enforcement, and resources to protect the environment. Without proper monitoring and support from authorities, it’s difficult to address the root causes.
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The Ocean Conservation Namibia Trust is a registered charitable trust with the Namibian High Court.
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