All 16 Gannet colonies in Scotland were counted in 2013–14. Combined colony totals indicated
that Scotland currently holds 243,505 apparently occupied sites (58% and 46% of the east
Atlantic and world populations, respectively). Numbers were divided very unevenly between the
colonies with Bass Rock (now the world’s largest colony), St Kilda and Ailsa Craig together holding
70% of the Scottish population. Gannets started to nest on Barra Head, Berneray in 2007 and
breeding may now be regular on Rockall. Numbers at St Kilda, Sule Stack and Scar Rocks were
stable, but all other colonies had increased, some spectacularly. Overall the Scottish population
increased by 33% between 2003–04 and 2013–14 at an average rate of increase of 2.9% per
annum. Although the Gannet appears less vulnerable to climate change than many other UK
seabirds, the proposed construction of major offshore wind farms close to colonies in the North
Sea and the imminent ban on fishery discards, could pose future threats to this species
