ACAP-listed Balearic Shearwaters get entangled in Portuguese waters

Balearic Shearwater at sea, photograph by Pep Arcos

R. Costa (Departamento de Biologia, Universidade de Aveiro, Portugal) and colleagues have published in the journal Marine Pollution Bulletin on entangled seabirds received by a rehabilitation centre in Portugal, including six out of 77 Critically Endangered Balearic Shearwaters Puffinus mauretanicus.

The paper’s abstract follows:

“Plastic pollution and the subsequent entanglement of marine animals is a global and increasing problem.  In this study we present an analysis of the seabirds recorded as entangled by a rehabilitation centre and an associated marine animal stranding network, along the central coast of Portugal, between 2008 and 2018.  Results show a high annual rate of entangled seabirds (average 6.9%) compared to other studies and fisheries related materials are a relevant cause of seabird entanglement (82%) compared to other debris.  When comparing age classes, juveniles were more vulnerable to entanglement than other age classes in the species studied.  Regarding the rehabilitation of entangled seabirds, the release rate was higher in non-fishing material entanglement cases.  In conclusion, this study highlights the impact of fisheries related material on marine fauna and the need for reinforcement of the existing legislation for protecting seabirds and the implementation of mitigation measures associated with fishing activities.”

Reference:

Costa, R.A., Sá, S., Pereira, A.T., Ângelo, A.R., Vaqueiro, J., Ferreira, M. & Eira, C. 2020.  Prevalence of entanglements of seabirds in marine debris in the central Portuguese coast.  Marine Pollution Bulletin doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.111746.

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 21 October 2020