Despite its small size it is recognised by BirdLife International and other global conservation groups as an Important Bird Area (IBA) for its significant coastal seabird breeding.

Mercury Island is situated 800 metres offshore in Spencer Bay, 110 kilometres north of Lüderitz.

Indeed the four Namibian islands of Mercury, Ichaboe, Halifax and Possession are critical for the breeding of a number of rare or endangered species of birds including the Cape gannets Morus capensis, the endangered African penguin Spheniscus demersus, and the crowned cormorants Microcarbo coronatus.

[4] Approximately 80% of the global population of the endangered bank cormorant Phalacrocorax neglectus breeds on Mercury and Ichaboe Islands.

The fishing vessel Boy Russell rescued them, taking them to Luderitz, South West Africa.