Oil spillages affecting seabirds in the United Kingdom, 1966–1983

Oil spillages have affected large numbers of seabirds, principally auks, in the United Kingdom waters between 1966 and 1983. The annual scale of mortality has varied widely, although the worst kills are substantially less than some recorded elsewhere in N.W. Europe. Regional variations in the occurrence of mortality incidents are recorded, which in general reflect the distribution at sea of both birds and marine traffic. Oil pollution incidents affecting birds are essentially a winter phenomenon in UK waters and some reasons for this are discussed.