Seabirds, which comprise more than 300 species worldwide, are declining faster than any other group of birds. Populations of oceanic seabirds are the most threatened. Many of these species are restricted to nesting on just one or a few islands, making them highly vulnerable to extinction.

Several threats, both land- and sea-based, continue to drive these species downward. They include:

• predation and displacement by non-native, invasive species on breeding islands
• habitat loss and degradation due to non-native, invasive species (plants and animals) and expansion of human activities
• collection of seabird eggs, chicks and adults for food or other purposes
• incidental mortality (bycatch) from fisheries operations
• reduction in prey availability because of human demand for fisheries resources, and
• marine pollutants (e.g., oil and plastic).

NFWF's Seabird Initiative works to enhance the viability of seabird populations by increasing their survival and reproduction to levels that will allow for long-term sustainability. It focuses on two broad geographic areas: the Caribbean and the Pacific. Business plans for each of these regions emphasize specific species, strategies and geographies.