PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
Balearic shearwater (Puffinus mauretanicus) and Yelkouan shearwater (Puffinus yelkouan) are pelagic seabirds, i.e. they spend a significant portion of their life on the open ocean, rarely coming close to land except to breed. They are among the most threatened species of birds, facing a wide range of threats at sea and on land. Their population dynamics are mostly determined by adult survival. Two major threats are becoming fisheries bycatch at sea and predation at nest sites on land by invasive non-native predators.
OBJECTIVES
The LIFE PanPuffinus! projects overall aim is to improve the conservation status of two endangered shearwater species (Puffinus mauretanicus and Puffinus yelkouan) across the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic coast of Portugal, by tackling two major threats on land and at sea through transboundary conservation efforts.
The projects specific objectives are:
Pilot test and tailor the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) methodology to quantify the bycatch of the two species in the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic coast of Portugal;Reduce bycatch incidents through the implementation and testing of existing and new mitigation measures, and to determine the benefits for target species in participating countries;Decrease predation rates by implementing invasive non-native predator eradication/control measures, and develop biosecurity protocols;Drive changes in management through engagement with key stakeholders and decision-makers by increasing awareness, understanding and appreciation of the Natura 2000 network and sea birds among national governments and coastal communities, thereby building knowledge on seabirds value, threats facing them and available management solutions.The project will assess national policies to understand how management measures are being implemented and align them with the Birds Directive and the Habitats Directive. A policy advocacy plan (PAP) will be developed and implemented in each participating country. By exchanging experiences between countries working on the conservation of these pelagic seabirds, the partners will also contribute to the implementation of the already produced International Species Action Plans for the Balearic shearwater and Yelkouan shearwater.
RESULTS
Expected results:
Collection of accurate and quantified information on seabird bycatch, through questionnaires, self-reporting forms and on-board observers, with five bycatch risk maps produced;Mitigation measures that significantly reduce seabird bycatch, and that do not impact fisheries catch, developed for fishing gear causing highest bycatch, with fishers trained in their use;5% reduction in mortality related to fisheries bycatch (difficult to assess in sites where baseline information is not available), with 20% of fishers from risk fleets in project SPAs having significantly changed attitudes and applying measures of the Mitigation Toolkit; Bycatch reporting through the Electronic Recording and Reporting System (ERS) increased and used by at least 100 fishers in project areas;55% breeding success maintained in one Special Protection Area (SPA) for Balearic shearwater, and 75% achieved in eight SPAs for Yelkouan shearwater colonies, thus the project will benefit 13% and 28-35% of the global population of each species, respectively;The threat of predation decreased in nine SPA/Special Area of Conservation (SAC), (4 in Greece, 4 in Malta and 1 in Spain), and the threat of re-incursion reduced through biosecurity measures in seven SPAs (2 in Greece, 4 in Malta and 1 in Spain);50% of relevant management authority staff will gain significantly increased awareness on seabird threats; At least 10 further Annex 1 species of the Birds Directive will benefit from the concrete project actions; andPublication of a Seabird Bycatch Identification Guide and Bycatch Mitigation Toolkit in six and seven languages, respectively, along with other communication materials aimed at coastal communities, local/regional authorities, and policymakers.
