Monitoring and mitigating seabird bycatch in the Mediterranean

Seabird species are exposed to several risk factors in their terrestrial and marine environments. Accidental capture in fishing operations (bycatch) can occur either with commercial fisheries or recreational fisheries and is identified as the leading at-sea threat to species populations globally. Published estimates of seabird bycatch in longline fisheries globally range from 160 000 to 320 000 per year. In Europe, gillnet and longline fisheries are responsible for the highest bycatch levels estimated, with 95 000 and 80 000 seabirds killed each year respectively.

Petrels and shearwaters are a highly at-risk group of bird species, with 55% of their 95 extant species listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as threatened of extinction. Theses species range widely during and outside of their breeding season, and can traverse ocean basins in between breeding periods, exposing them to risks both within national waters and on the high seas.

The Yelkouan (Puffinus yelkouan) and Balearic shearwaters (Puffinus mauretanicus) are
respectively classified as Vulnerable and Critically Endangered by the IUCN Red List of
Threatened Species. The project LIFE PanPuffinus! (2020-2025) aims to improve the conservation status of these two species by tackling predation by invasive species and fisheries bycatch, which are the main threats that these species face both on land and at sea, during and outside breeding season.

With respect to the second threat, the project planned to tackle fisheries bycatch of Yelkouan and Balearic shearwaters through two a combination of actions:
- Through a multi-approach methodology, collecting information on spatio-temporal characteristics of fisheries, seabird distribution and bycatch rates to produce bycatch risk maps
- Collaborating with professional fishers to identify and trial different bycatch mitigation measures to deter birds from fishing boats, reduce attraction or impede access of seabirds to a potential food
- Selecting and adapting the most suitable bycatch mitigation measures to local realities
- Compiling knowledge and experience of partners working with seabird bycatch in the Mediterranean
- Increasing capacity of relevant authorities through awareness-raising activities and training to respond to country-specific threats to these species.

As we are entering in the final year of the projet, the main results from these actions have been obtained and can be shared, in particular, which fisheries (gear, location, season) are causing seabird bycatch, and which mitigation measures are most effective and should be implemented across the region. LIFE PanPuffinus’s results aim are being incorporated in bycatch monitoring and reduction policies partner countries in the Mediterranean and beyond. Conservationist and fishers collaboration initiated through this project will also be continued through new initiatives and national and transnational level.