Line of action:

Status:

Execution date:

To contribute to the conservation of Europe’s seabirds through the comprehensive management of Natura 2000 marine areas.

Specific objectives of the project

– To improve scientific knowledge of the seabird populations present in the Gulf of Ártabro and the marine SPAs of the province of A Coruña, and of their conservation status.
– Identify the main impacts on seabirds and their habitats in this territory.
– To evaluate the incidence of mortality in fishing gear in this territory.
– Propose measures for the conservation and management of these seabird populations and their habitats.
– To learn about and disseminate good practices among fishermen and society in general in terms of the compatibility of fishing and seabird conservation, as well as the importance of the conservation of marine biodiversity.
– To facilitate social participation, especially of the fisheries sector, in decision-making on the management of the marine environment.
– To propose measures for the comprehensive management of the marine environment in this territory, especially in relation to maritime traffic, fishing and public use.

A1. Census of breeding
seabirds A2. Tracking the passage of A3 seabirds
. Analysis of the use of space by the target species. A4 remote
tracking. Recording and analysis of cetacean
observations A5. A6 scientific
ringing. Analysis of genetic variability of A7 shag.
A8 Exotic
Predator Study. Protection of B1 storm petrel
colonies. Identification of impacts and threats on seabirds
B2. Seminar on sustainability of marine
SPAs B3. Training of volunteers in C1 seabird
census. Working Group on Seabirds and Fishing
Gear C2. Participatory process for the fishing
sector C3. Surveys of fishermen on mortality and interactions of birds with fishing
gear C4. Scientific observer campaign on C5 inshore
boats. Campaign to disseminate good practices among the fishing
sector D1. Dissemination campaign on marine
SPAs D2. Citizen
Innovation Laboratory E1. Final report.
F1. Communication

A1. Census of breeding seabirds: The census of breeding seabirds in the area of study (between the islands of Sisargas and Estaca de Bares) is updated:

• Downward update of the estimated population in Galicia of European storm petrels.
• Consolidation and positive trend in Atlantic Cory’s shearwater colonies.
• Population of close to 300 breeding pairs of shags, 17% of the Cantabrian-Atlantic population of the species in the Iberian Peninsula.
• Significant and generalized decrease in the breeding population of yellow-legged gull (close to 70% in colonies with known data).
• Continued decline in the breeding population of black-backed gull in the Sisargas Islands.
• Confirmation of new breeding locations for the Atlantic Gull and Eurasian Oystercatcher

A2. Monitoring the migratory passage of seabirds.

• First complete monitoring of the migratory passage of seabirds throughout the entire annual cycle in Estaca de Bares.
• 184 census days and 957 census hours during daytime hours (25.4% of the daylight hours of the period).
• 637 birds were registered in total, with an estimate of the total visible passage in daylight hours of 1,770,341 birds.
• The spring migratory passage has been monitored for the first time: 105,225 birds counted and 528,584 estimated.
• Data obtained for 77 species.

A3. Analysis of the use of marine space by the target species for conservation. Remote tracking devices (GPS-GSM) installed on 6 specimens of Atlantic Cory’s shearwater and shag.

A5. Scientific ringing. 18 shags, 105 yellow-legged gulls and 1 black-backed gull.

A7. Study of the presence of exotic predators in breeding colonies. The presence of native terrestrial predators is detected in the surroundings of the breeding colonies of European shag, Cory’s shearwater and European storm petrel, without severe impacts on their productivity. The presence or indications of predation of exotic predators such as cats or American minks are not detected.

A8. Measures for the protection and consolidation of storm-petrel colonies: placement of 9 specific nest-boxes for European storm-petrel in one of the colonies in the study area.

B2-Seminar on sustainability of human activities in marine and coastal SPAs. with 10 presentations by different experts in the study of seabirds and their conservation.

B3-Training campaign in census and monitoring of seabirds for volunteers, with training of 10 volunteers.

C3 Conducting surveys of fishermen on mortality and interactions between seabirds and fishing gear. Conducting 42 surveys of fishermen.

Participatory process: holding 15 meetings and workshops with fishermen’s guilds and other sectors of interest.

Preparation of informative materials: poster on seabirds, poster on seabirds and fishing, 2022 calendars, informative videos.