Trends in numbers of Cape gannets (Morus capensis),1956/1957-2005/2006, with a consideration of theinfluence of food and other factors

Cape gannets (Morus capensis) breed at six colonies in Namibia and South Africa. Population size averaged about 250 000 pairs overthe period 1956/1957-1968/1969 and about 150 000 pairs from 1978/1979 to 2005/2006. Over the whole 50-y period, numbers atthe three Namibian colonies fell by 85-98%, with greater proportional decreases in the south. There were increases at two SouthAfrican colonies between 1956/1957 and 2005/2006. The colony at Lambert’s Bay increased between 1956/1957 and 2003/2004,

Robert J. M et al., ICES Journal of Marine Science Advance Access published November 2, 2006