The accelerated disappearance of certain colonies, viruses and multiple forms of pollution, the ineffectiveness of marine protected areas… Warning signs are mounting in the face of rapid but invisible deterioration among seabirds. Scientists and activists are calling on every citizen of the world to urgently re-examine their relationship with nature and living things. In an exclusive interview, Allain Bougrain-Dubourg, president of the french League for the Protection of Birds (LPO), shares his observations and highlights the urgent need for change.
An interview by Laurie Henry
Cover photo : Allain Bougrain-Dubourg – © Nature Productions
The ocean is under unprecedented pressure: global warming, overfishing, viruses and pollution… the marine balance is faltering. At the heart of this crisis, seabirds are the first to decline. They often disappear amid indifference, and some colonies, once emblematic, are silently collapsing. Yet they play a crucial role as indicators of the health of marine environments, both near the coast and further out to sea.
While France and other countries are stepping up their announcements on ocean protection, the reality on the ground raises questions. Are so-called ‘protected’ marine areas really protected? What does this disappearance say about how we manage living organisms? To better understand the scale of the crisis and the political responsibilities it entails, we interviewed Allain Bougrain-Dubourg, president of the LPO. His comments are straightforward and highlight the urgent need for a change of course.