Seabird ocean hotspot to be safeguarded
One of the largest Marine Protected Areas in the world has been created in the Atlantic
Anewly discovered major hotspot for seabirds covering an area roughly the size of France in the north-east Atlantic has been designated as a Marine Protected Area. The move, which was agreed by 15 countries, including the UK, has been welcomed by conservationists as a critical step to ensure the long-term biodiversity of the area and protect millions of seabirds.
The North Atlantic Current and Evlanov Seamount Marine Protected Area lies approximately 1,500km west of Ireland and is a vitally important feeding area for over 20 species of migratory seabirds, making it one of the most important concentrations in the Atlantic.
The area is used by seabirds breeding on the coasts surrounding the north-east
Atlantic, migrating across the globe, and nesting in other parts of the world. Many hundreds of thousands of seabirds that breed in the UK were recorded there, including kittiwakes from Rathlin Island and Fair Isle; Manx shearwaters from the islands of Lundy and Rum; and fulmars from the Orkney Islands.
While the area is of year-round importance, research has shown that the winter months see the highest numbers of seabirds, with an estimated five million birds foraging in the area. It was only recently identified as a major hotspot for seabirds due to a pioneering collaborative effort led by BirdLife International, which involved tracking over 1,000 seabirds from 21 species.
“This is fantastic news for seabirds around the UK and globally, which are in great need of protection with their global population declining by 70 per cent since 1950,” says Beccy Speight, chief executive officer of the RSPB.
“This designation will allow for the protection of our seabirds and will help restore the fish stocks they depend on.
It is also a good example of international collaboration and how decision-makers can put science into practice to protect wildlife, halt species decline and revive our world.”
However, Speight adds that ensuring effective implementation of protective measures in the area will
now be key.