Two new Marine Protected Areas declared by Portugal will help conserve ACAP-listed Balearic Shearwaters

The Portuguese Government has approved the designation of two new marine Special Protection Areas (SPAs) in terms of the European Birds Directive (click here).

As well as the approval of the Cabo Raso and Aveiro/Nazaré SPAs, two existing marine SPAs are being expanded at Cabo Espichel and Costa Sudoeste.  The decision was based on seabird monitoring data collected along the Portuguese coast over the past 10 years by BirdLife International’s Portuguese Partner, the Portuguese Society for the Study of Birds (SPEA).

The new and expanded sites will add to the existing Portuguese marine SPA network, offering protection to important feeding and roosting areas used by the Critically Endangered Balearic Shearwater Puffinus mauretanicus and other seabirds.

Balearic Shearwater at sea

Read more here.

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 25 October 2015