Transboundary Action to Save Mediterranean Shearwaters
We spoke with Project Manager Manya Russo from BirdLife Malta. This cross-border effort unites scientists, policymakers, and fishermen to safeguard Balearic and Yelkouan shearwaters. By addressing invasive rats on land and reducing seabird bycatch at sea, the project aims to secure a safer future for these vulnerable species across the Mediterranean and Atlantic regions.
Balearic and Yelkouan shearwaters, two pelagic seabirds that spend most of their lives on the open ocean, are among the most threatened birds in the Mediterranean. They forage exclusively in the marine environment and only come ashore to breed. On land, their single egg and slow growing nestling are particularly vulnerable to predation by nonnative predators such as rats.
At sea, these birds risk becoming entangled in fishing gear—a phenomenon known as bycatch. The transboundary LIFE PanPuffinus! project unites researchers, policymakers, and fishers from several countries to tackle these dual threats and improve the conservation status of these seabirds across the Mediterranean and along Portugal’s Atlantic coast.
Yelkouan Shearwaters (Puffinus yelkouan), have a global population estimated at roughly 16,000 to 18,000 pairs, with about 28-35% of the global population found in the project sites.. This species is classified as Vulnerable by the IUCN. The Balearic Shearwater (Puffinus mauretanicus) is found mainly and breeds exclusively in Spain’s Balearic Islands and is considered Europe’s most endangered seabird, with only around 25,000 individuals remaining. Because both species depend on the survival of breeding adults, even small increases in mortality can destabilise entire colonies.
Launched in 2020 and expected to run until at least 2025, the LIFE PanPuffinus! initiative is led by BirdLife Malta in collaboration with Birdlife and government partners in Malta, Greece, France, Spain, and Portugal. Project Manager Manya Russo explains that their effort focuses on two main pillars: controlling invasive rat populations at key nesting sites and introducing effective bycatch mitigation measures at sea. “We’re collaborating across multiple regions, with each partner working in its own context but sharing the same objectives,”
“We’re collaborating across multiple regions, with each partner working in its own context but sharing the same objectives.”
she says. “On land, we produce biosecurity plans and carry out scientific rat control to ensure protected areas are managed effectively. At sea, we work with fishers to create solutions and reduce the accidental catch of these birds.”
Much of the onshore work is not only about controlling rat populations but also about establishing protocols to keep predation at colonies low. “Our biosecurity documents provide governments and agencies the tools to
set up systematic protocols for rat control,” she explains. “They’re practical guides for long-term management. Constant monitoring is needed to ensure efforts are effective. .” The project also tests for rodenticide resistance in local rat populations. “We examined local rats to see whether they’re developing resistance to the rodenticides we’re using. This was a small part of the project, but important for understanding whether alternative strategies might be needed” she adds.
Mitigating Seabird Bycatch
At sea, the challenge of bycatch is equally critical. Shearwaters forage near fishing vessels, and their interactions with gear are often underreported. Many fishers either do not see the accidental capture of a bird as significant or are reluctant to report such incidents for fear of repercussions. This gap in reliable data makes it difficult to assess the true risk to both Balearic and Yelkouan shearwaters. To address this, the project team is collecting data from fishers on seabird bycatch and affected species, through the use of questionnaires and onboard observations. Fishers are encouraged to maintain a logbook. By doing this, fishers contribute essential data on the species, timing and locations of bycatch events. Large-scale data analysis and tracking have provided further insights into the birds’ foraging behaviour. In a study led by BirdLife Malta’s Martin Austad and colleagues, time-depth recorders were deployed on Yelkouan shearwaters in Malta and Greece. The study, which recorded over 16,000 dives, revealed that these birds dive more deeply and frequently than previously assumed. The researchers also observed that
their foraging activity peaks at dawn and dusk. This has important implications for night-setting practices for fishing gear—if operations begin too early or finish too late, the risk of bycatch may inadvertently increase. Complementing these studies is a risk-mapping initiative detailed in a report led by project partner Ligue pour la Protection des Oiseaux (LPO) By combining current seabird distribution data from GPS tracking with fishery-activity information from satellite AIS, vessel monitoring systems, and local surveys, scientists have identified potential interaction points between fishing operations and the main foraging zones of both shearwater species. Russo explains, “The challenge is verifying whether these spatial overlaps lead to mortalities.. Nonetheless, the modelling helps direct observer coverage and identify target fleets, and encourages the adoption of deterrents like the ‘Scary Bird’ or the use of weighted lines that sink faster, leaving birds with less time to get entangled.” The “Scary Bird,” a visual deterrent placed near fishing gear, is one of several innovative measures being trialed. Other approaches include using contrast panels to make nets more visible and using a rope and buoy trailed behind a boat to act as a deterrent. Early feedback from fishers has been cautiously optimistic, particularly as these measures do not appear to affect fish catches negatively. The ultimate aim is to compile these methods into a comprehensive Mitigation Toolkit—with guidelines available in multiple languages—that can be widely adopted by fishers, fishery managers, and policymakers.
Uniting Research and Policy
Although the project has already produced promising results, Russo stresses that longterm success depends on influencing policy and widespread adoption of bycatch reducing strategies. “This project is about demonstrating that concrete, scientifically tested solutions exist,” she says. “But for these measures to be applied nationwide, they must feed into policy action plans and regulatory frameworks. Simply collecting good data isn’t enough—governments must recognise the problem, enact sensible regulations, and support fishers who adopt these measures.” In several partner countries, bycatch action plans are being drafted, and local
authorities are integrating LIFE PanPuffinus! data and recommendations into these plans. In Malta, although an official bycatch plan has yet to be established, the project has set the groundwork by pinpointing when and how seabird–fisher interactions occur. At first glance, rat control on land and bycatch mitigation at sea might seem like separate issues, yet both are critical for the survival of breeding adults. Whether a shearwater returns at night to feed its chick or dives at dawn in search of prey, each successful journey is vital to maintaining the colony’s viability. By integrating local engagement, transnational research, and policy advocacy into one cohesive programme, LIFE PanPuffinus! offers a model that could be replicated elsewhere in the Mediterranean. Looking ahead, Russo is keen to expand the project’s impact. “The next challenge is to convince more fishers to test these measures and to urge more policy-makers to incorporate them into official regulations,” she explains.
“Our hope is that after 2025 or 2026, every partner country will have a clear framework in place so that bycatch reduction and invasive predator management become standard practice rather than isolated pilot projects.”
LIFE PanPuffinus! has already demonstrated that practical, science-based conservation solutions can mitigate the dual threats facing these endangered seabirds. Through systematic predator control on land and innovative bycatch deterrents at sea, the project is laying the groundwork for a future where both Balearic and Yelkouan shearwaters can thrive. By bridging the gap between research, policy, and community collaboration, this initiative shows that even small, targeted actions—when implemented across borders—can make a significant difference in safeguarding Europe’s most vulnerable seabirds.
LIFE PanPuffinus!
Improving the conservation status of endemic Balearic and Yelkouan shearwaters by ensuring safe land and sea
Project Objectives
The LIFE PanPuffinus! project seeks to protect Balearic and Yelkouan shearwaters by implementing systematic rat control protocols at key nesting sites, while pioneering practical, science-based methods to minimise seabird bycatch in fishing operations. Through collaborative research, policy engagement, and stakeholder training, the project strives to establish a robust framework that can be adopted regionally to ensure the long-term survival of these endangered seabirds..
Project Funding
The €3.45 million project, which has started in 2021 and will run till 2025, is part-financed 60% by the European Union’s LIFE programme.
Project Partners
• Birdlife Malta (BLM), Malta • Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture (DFA), Malta • Hellenic Ornithological Society (HOS), Greece • Natural Environment and Climate Change Agency (NECCA), Greece • Ligue pour la Protection des Oiseaux (LPO), France • Sociedad Española de Ornitología (SEO), Spain Sociedade Portuguesa para o Estudo das Aves (SPEA), Portugal
Contact Details
Project Manager, Manya Russo LIFE PanPuffinus!
BirdLife Malta V.O. 0052 57/28 Marina Court, Triq Abate Rigord, Ta’ Xbiex XBX 1120
T: +356 21347645
E: info@birdlifemalta.org
W: https://lifepanpuffinus.org/
Russo
Manya Russo holds BSc in Biology and Chemistry from the University of Malta and an MSc in Conservation Biology from the University of Kent. She has occupied technical and managerial roles in international consultancies and NGOs across Europe and the Middle East. Currently, she manages BirdLife Malta’s LIFE PanPuffinus! project.
