PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
The Slovenian sea is home to a significant portion (11.4 % or around 2 000 individuals in the non-breeding period) of the biogeographical population of the Mediterranean shag (Phalacrocora x aristotelis desmarestii). Other seabirds, such as the Mediterranean shearwater (Puffinus yelkouan) and Mediterranean gull (Larus melanocephalus) can also be found here in populations of up to 1 000 individuals, or 1% or more of their biogeographical population. Because of this, the area deserves special conservation attention.
The area’s lack of any legal conservation status, however, posed a major threat to the favourable conservation status of a significant part of the Mediterranean shag population. According to the relevant EU and BirdLife International guidelines, knowledge of the distribution, population densities, flight routes and seasonal dynamics of the Mediterranean shag was required in order to identify a new Slovenian marine Important Bird Area/Special Protection Area (IBA/SPA). The overall conservation status of the seabird species in Slovenia also needed to be improved.
OBJECTIVES
The SIMARINE-NATURA project aimed to significantly improve knowledge of the distribution, population densities, flight routes and seasonal dynamics of the Mediterranean shag in Slovenia in order to identify a new marine IBA. It also aimed to improve protection of the local population of the Mediterranean shag from accidental oil spills, by preparing expert guidelines. The project aimed to establish a coordinated management approach among the many stakeholders in the busy Gulf of Trieste, where there was a high possibility of uncontrolled activities that could significantly harm the shag population and its habitat. It also sought to raise public awareness about the conservation status of the Mediterranean shag and other important marine species in the future marine IBA/SPA.
RESULTS
The SIMARINE-NATURA project achieved most of its objectives. It significantly improved knowledge about the population status, diet and behaviour of the Mediterranean shag in Slovenia. This knowledge, gained through innovative monitoring tools, is now contributing to the conservation of the seabird species in three newly-designated Slovenian coastal SPAs and one marine SPA, the latter awaiting approval by the government. Conservation of the shags has also been incorporated into the management plans of two coastal nature parks (Strunjan and Sečoveljske soline). Dissemination and awareness raising about the seabird was also successful. Importantly, contrary to public opinion locally, research revealed there were no conflicts between conservation of the Mediterranean shag and the local fishery and mariculture sectors.
The new site- designations for the Mediterranean shag in Slovenia will facilitate the conservation of the wider coastal environment and will help prevent activities that are harmful for the coastal ecosystem e.g. mitigation of potential oil-spills impacts through guidelines for action in the event of accidental oil spills and occurrence of oiled marine fauna.
As well as concrete environmental benefits for the target seabird species, the project is expected to yield other long-term benefits for the marine environment including: preserved marine biodiversity; healthy and functioning food webs; restored sea floor integrity; elimination of marine litter; and healthy populations of commercial and non-commercial fish.
The project’s outputs have important policy implications in relation to the EU Marine Strategy Framework (MSF), Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) – fisheries management, and Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP) and the conservation measures comply with specific environmental legislation, notably the Birds- and Marine Strategy Framework directives. A particularly innovative aspect was the development of a new method for catching shags at sea, as there were no previous cases of their successful trapping outside of their breeding colonies. These traps apparently worked well, although there were some limitations regarding their locations. Also successful, and not previously tested on the shags, was the project’s GPS tracking of individual birds using a GSM signal (by a mobile operator). This aspect has a high demonstration value: It showed a) the Mediterranean shags don’t compete for food with local fishermen (as occurs with other seabird species), as they only feed on small benthic fish with no commercial value; and b) cause no harm i.e. don’t negatively influence mariculture when they use buoys and other floating objects as part of their roosting habitat.
Further information on the project can be found in the project's layman report and After-LIFE Conservation Plan (see "Read more" section).
