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Fundación Azti points out that, given the accelerated loss of global biodiversity, there is an urgent need to implement ecologically coherent networks of protected areas within international frameworks such as the Convention on Biological Diversity. In European waters, the marine Natura 2000 Network represents the implementation of the Habitats and Birds Directives for the conservation of habitats and species of Community interest.

The project has focused on species of birds and marine mammals from pelagic habitats that are included in both European Directives and in the List of Wild Species under Special Protection and the Spanish Catalogue of Endangered Species, among others. In addition, these species are included in the group of species and habitats prioritised within the Biodiversity Descriptor 1 of the Marine Strategies Framework Directive. Azti also highlights that the compilation of data from different components of the marine ecosystem can help to develop descriptors that allow spatial assessments to be carried out in the North Atlantic Demarcation.

The general objective of the project has focused on carrying out a spatial assessment of the global coherence and ecological connectivity of the marine Natura 2000 Network for the conservation of species of community interest in the North Atlantic Demarcation.

Specific objectives include:

• Obtain existing information related to the field of study.
• Raising awareness of the Natura 2000 Network.
• Identification of species of Community interest.
• Integration of components of the pelagic ecosystem.
• Spatial predictions of focal species abundance.
• Global coherence and ecological connectivity of the Natura 2000 Network.

• Dissemination and communication of the project.
• Bibliographic review on focal species.
• Obtaining biomass from pelagic prey.
• Oceanographic characterization of multidisciplinary campaigns.
• Integration of components of the pelagic ecosystem.
• Development of spatial models of relative abundance.
• Identification of critical areas of focal species.
• Spatial overlap of critical areas, relative population and Natura 2000 Network.

The project has made it possible to model the spatiotemporal distribution of the abundance and probability of presence of the following species in the Bay of Biscay: Bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus), fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus), Balearic shearwater (Puffinus mauretanicus), Pinochet shearwater (Puffinus Puffinus) and Atlantic Cory’s shearwater (Calonectris borealis). Likewise, a series of technical sheets and infographics of the species studied in the project have been prepared in order to make known to both the scientific community and society in general aspects of their distribution, ecology and conservation status.

The results of the project show that the existing network of marine protected areas in the marine subdivision of the Spanish North Atlantic adequately protects seabird species from more coastal habitats, and marginally the bottlenose dolphin. However, it is not suitable for species with pelagic distribution (Atlantic Cory’s shearwater and fin whale).

This initiative has contributed to the objectives of LIFE Intemares.