---
title: "Slow progress to the year 2061?  Tracking plastic pollution in the North Sea via the Arctic Fulmar"
---

# Slow progress to the year 2061?  Tracking plastic pollution in the North Sea via the Arctic Fulmar

*![Arctic Fulmar plastic](https://www.acap.aq/images/Arctic_Fulmar_plastic.png)  
Stomach contents of a beached Arctic Fulmar in 2025 – see details of all 76 beached individuals [here](https://research.wur.nl/en/publications/fulmar-finders-information-netherlands-2025-sns-fulmar-study-repo/)*

 Once again, Susanne Kühn ([Wageningen Marine Research](https://www.wur.nl/en/research-results/research-institutes/marine-research.htm), Den Helder, The Netherlands) and colleagues have produced an annual report in their series on plastic pollution in beach-wrecked Arctic Fulmars *Fulmarus glacialis* from The Netherlands.

 “In 2025, we received 76 fulmars, of which 65 still had an intact stomach.  As the annual numbers vary, we usually combine results in 5- year averages (2021-2025).  From this period, 283 fulmars were available. 92% of them ingested some plastic, on average 23 pieces weighing 0.24g per bird.  48% had more plastic in their stomach than required by the OSPAR/EU Fulmar Threshold Value of 0.1 gram.  The long-term goal is than no more than 10% of these birds exceed this threshold. According to our forecast, this target could be reached in the year of 2061.”

 *![Arctic Fulmar](https://www.acap.aq/images/Arctic_Fulmar.jpg)An Arctic Fulmar in the North Sea*

 Access the project’s previous annual report[here](https://www.acap.aq/latest-news/plastic-ingestion-by-beached-arctic-fulmars-in-the-netherlands?highlight=WyJhcmN0aWMiLCJmdWxtYXIiLCJmdWxtYXJzIl0=), which stated the 10% target would be reached only in 2077.

 With thanks to Susanne Kühn.

 **Reference:**

 Kühn, S., Meijboom, A., Bittner, O. & Van Franeker, J.A. 2026.  *[Fulmar Litter Monitoring in the Netherlands – Update 2025](https://doi.org/10.18174/716740)*.  Den Helder: Wageningen Marine Research Report C045/26 and RWS Centrale Informatievoorziening Report.  Pp. 28.

 *John Cooper, Emeritus Information Officer, Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels, 30 October 2025*