Due to the species's foraging behaviour (shallow diving) and habit of hunting within purse-seine and gill-nets, the species is particularly susceptible to bycatch. Although these unintentional effects of fishing activities are not currently found to be driving colony declines, they could present problems on both local and global scales if populations were to decline (Bregnballe and Frederiksen 2006). The species is also susceptible to oil spills across its range.Outside of the UAE the species also faces a range of other threats, which could impact individuals that visit the country. The species is often persecuted by the aquaculture industry and may be shot, drowned or poisoned in attempts to control numbers (Carss 1994) or for hunting;(Bzoma;et al. 2011). It may also suffer from disturbance from coastal wind farms (wind turbines) (Bradbury;et al. 2014), and is susceptible to avian influenza (Melville and Shortridge 2006) and Newcastle disease (Kuiken 1999), so may be threatened by future outbreaks of these viruses (Kuiken 1999, Melville and Shortridge 2006).;Recreational activities taking place at sea may also cause displacement from critical habitat. The species is hunted for recreation and is sold at commercial food markets in some countries e.g. Iran (Balmaki and Barati 2006).