Kees Camphuijsen

Marine ecologist Kees Camphuysen obtained his PhD for his long-term research into the herring gulls and lesser black-backed gulls in colonies on the island of Texel. ‘These birds’ lives are strongly related to commercial fishing activities on the North Sea. The development of the chicks is synchronised with commercial fishing efforts in the vicinity. For example, the chicks scarcely grow on a Saturday or a Sunday, and cannibalism is high if the fishing boats are in harbour during weekends. Alternative sources of food, of which there are many, are insufficient to stave off this weekly recurring starvation. For the herring gull, there is a strong relationship with food supplies in cities. Since we have covered up landfill areas, somewhere in the 1990s, herring gulls turned their attention to our villages, towns and tourist centres. Natural resources are insufficient to maintain the populations which increased so strongly in the past. Consequently, the number of herring gulls has been decreasing for many years.’