European Shag
VU

European Shag

Phalacrocorax aristotelis

Unknown

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_shag

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

European Shag populations face significant pressure from marine pollution, particularly plastic debris and chemical contaminants that accumulate in their fish prey. Climate change is altering sea temperatures and fish distribution patterns, forcing shags to travel greater distances to find suitable feeding areas. Coastal development and human disturbance at breeding colonies further compound population declines, while extreme weather events increasingly destroy nesting sites on exposed cliff faces.

Threat summary

Habitat

European Shags inhabit rocky coastlines, sea cliffs, and offshore islands throughout the northeastern Atlantic, nesting in colonies on narrow cliff ledges and rocky outcrops. They forage in shallow coastal waters, typically diving to depths of 10-45 meters to catch small fish in kelp forests and rocky reef systems.

MARINE· majorTERRESTRIAL· major

Other threatened species in Phalacrocoracidae

Black ShagVU

Black Shag

Phalacrocorax carbo

Unknown
Flightless CormorantVU

Flightless Cormorant

Phalacrocorax harrisi

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is European Shag classified as Vulnerable?
European Shag is classified as Vulnerable because the population is declining and the species faces a high risk of extinction in the medium-term future if current pressures continue. European Shag populations face significant pressure from marine pollution, particularly plastic debris and chemical contaminants that accumulate in their fish prey. Climate change is altering sea temperatures and fish distribution patterns, forcing shags to travel greater distances to find suitable feeding areas. Coastal development and human disturbance at breeding colonies further compound population declines, while extreme weather events increasingly destroy nesting sites on exposed cliff faces.
Where does European Shag live?
European Shag occurs in across multiple regions. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to European Shag?
The main threats to European Shag are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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