Summary
Direct exploitation of seabirds for food, feathers, eggs or guano are not the only ways in which humans still exert considerable pressure on seabird populations. The destruction and alteration of habitats, the introduction of exotic animals and diseases, pollution of terrestrial and marine environments and competition with commercial fisheries, have all taken their toll. Add to this list recreational visits to seabird colonies and recreational eco-tourism, and our potential for impact ever increases. In a 1984 review of the status of seabird populations world-wide, 85 seabird species were either considered endangered or were being measurably affected by human activity. Recreational visits and tourism contributed to population decreases for almost 25% of these.