Status Report for Yelkouan Shearwater Puffinus yelkouan (2 nd draft)

Transcription

1 LIFE 14 PRE UK 002 Coordinated Efforts for International Species Recovery EuroSAP Status Report for Yelkouan Shearwater Puffinus yelkouan (2 nd draft) January 2017 LPO France SEPN F. Dhermain LN p a g e 1

2 p a g e 2

3 LIFE 14 PRE UK 002 Coordinated Efforts for International Species Recovery EuroSAP Status Report for Yelkouan Shearwater Puffinus yelkouan (2 nd draft) November 2016 LPO France SEPN This Status Report has been prepared by LPO with the financial support of the European Commission, the French MPA Agency and MAVA Foundation in the framework of the LIFE14 PRE/UK/ EuroSAP Project (coordinated by BirdLife International). Funders: European Commission, Agence des Aires Marine Protégées and MAVA Foundation. Coordination of LIFE EuroSAP: BirdLife International. Coordination of the Status Report: LPO, BirdLife partner in France Compilers: Helena García Robles, Bernard Deceuninck & Thierry Micol +33(0) ) Contributors to the Status Report: Ahmed Taibi (University of Tlemcen, Algeria), Anna Staneva (BirdLife Bulgaria -BSPB), Pierre Yésou (Medmaravis), Karen Bourgeois (Institut Méditerranéen de Biodiversité et d Ecologie marine et continentale -Aix-Marseille Université), Danae Portolou (Hellenic Ornithological Society, Greece), Ghassan Ramadan-Jaradi (Society for the Protection of Nature -SPNL, Lebanon), Abdulmaula Hamza (Environment General Authority EGA, Lybia), Benjamin Metzger (BirdLife Malta), Sidi Imad Cherkaoui (Université Moulay Ismail, Morocco), Emil Todorov (Romanian Ornithological Society), Jose Manuel Arcos (SEO BirdLife, Spain), Ridha Ouni (Tunisia Wildlife Conservation Society -TWCS), Dilek Sahin (Bogazici University Institute of Environmental Sciences, Turkey), Nicola Baccetti & Marco Zenatello (Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale -ISPRA, Italy), Sergio Nissardi (Di Sergio Nissardi e Carla Zucca s.n.c), Paulo Lago Barreiro (BirdLife Malta) Recommended citation: Garcia Robles H., Deceuninck B. & Micol T. (compilers), Status Report for Yelkouan Shearwater Puffinus Yelkouan (2nd draft). Project LIFE 14 PRE/UK/ Coordinated Efforts for International Species Recovery EuroSAP. Ligue pour la Protection des Oiseaux, BirdLife France. Rochefort. 22 p. Ligue pour la Protection des Oiseaux Fonderies Royales, 8-10 rue du Dr Pujos CS ROCHEFORT Cedex Tél +33(0) p a g e 3

4 CONTENTS 1. BACKGROUND RATIONALE FOR YELKOUAN SHEARWATER POPULATIONS ASSESSMENT GEOGRAPHIC RANGE HABITAT INFORMATION POPULATION SIZE BREEDING POPULATION TREND CONSERVATION AND LEGAL STATUS THREATS CONSERVATION ACTIONS UNDERWAY AND FUNDED PROJECTS CONSERVATION ACTIONS PROPOSED, RESEARCH NEEDED AND MONITORING NEEDED STAKEHOLDERS REFERENCES p a g e 4

5 1. BACKGROUND Yelkouan Shearwater Puffinus yelkouan is endemic to the Mediterranean and Black Seas, breeding from Southern France and North-eastern Algeria to Greece and (presumably) Bulgaria. Breeding is also suspected in Turkey, but still not proven (Carboneras et al. 2014). This species was listed as Vulnerable (VU) at global level in 2012, since rapid population declines were documented. Declines were thought to be caused by low breeding success and low adult survival owing mainly to fishery bycatch and predation by introduced mammals (Derhé 2012, BirdLife International 2015a). Previously published global Red List assessments: 2012 Vulnerable (VU) 2010 Near Threatened (NT) 2008 Near Threatened (NT) 2004 Least Concern (LC) 2000 Lower Risk/Least Concern (LR/LC) 1994 Not Recognized (NR) 1988 Not Recognized (NR) Nevertheless, data collated across Europe afterwards for the European Red List of Birds suggested that the species was no longer declining, with a total population over the threshold and thus classified as Least Concern LC (BirdLife International 2015b). According to new information, it may even be increasing at some colonies, as suggested by recent counts, mostly in Italy and Malta. This resulted in the down-listing of the Yelkouan Shearwater to Least Concern (LC) in the European Red List in Since the species status in Europe effectively determines its global status, following this result, the Yelkouan Shearwater should no longer be classified as Vulnerable in the Global Red List. However, according to experts knowledge, count results have been misinterpreted, since such an increase in population seems to be mostly due to the improvement of the monitoring effort. Conservation actions have certainly improved the situation of some colonies, but only locally. Conservation actions developed until now are far from eradicating main threats at global level and, consequently, from reversing the population trend from declining to increasing. This is why, with the current knowledge, it has been decided to maintain the Yelkouan Shearwater in the red list as Vulnerable, recognising that the 2012 analysis (Derhé 2012b), based on Bourgeois & Vidal (2008) study and updated data collected from experts consultation, is more suitable to assess the species status than the European Red List based of EU official reporting data (BirdLife International 2015b). Further studies and monitoring should be directed to properly ascertain if there is a real declining trend of the species or, alternatively, if it can be safely down-listed to Near Threatened (NT) or Least Concern (LC) in the future. p a g e 5

6 2. RATIONALE FOR YELKOUAN SHEARWATER POPULATIONS ASSESSMENT In recent decades, the EU produced a series of action plans aimed at conserving some of the most threatened bird species in Europe. This suite of plans included both Species Action Plans (for species that are not hunted within the EU), and Management Plans (for huntable bird species). Some of these action plans have now expired and need updating. Some species showing sharp declines in EU, and/or that are globally threatened, have up to now not yet benefited from international/eu action plans, as the Yelkouan Shearwater. The Yelkouan Shearwater occurs only in the Mediterranean and Black Seas where diverse initiatives already exist to protect breeding colonies (i.e Bourgeois et al. 2015) and to set in place marine protected areas. In this context, also promoted by EU in the frame of the extension of Natura 2000 network to marine habitats (e.g. Fric et al. 2012) and other LIFE actions (e.g. Borg et al. 2010), it is worth joining and coordinating efforts to preserve this globally threatened species at the scale of its flyway or global distribution. So the subproject "Action Plan for the Yelkouan Shearwater" within the framework of LIFE EuroSAP will develop a new action plan for a globally threatened species whose main breeding populations are located in EU Member States (BirdLife International 2015a). F. Dhermain p a g e 6

7 3. GEOGRAPHIC RANGE The world range of the Yelkouan Shearwater Puffinus yelkouan is restricted to the Mediterranean and Black Seas (Figure 1), but its precise distribution is not well known and numbers are disputed (Bourgeois & Vidal 2008). The countries of occurrence (Table 1) for this species are Albania, Algeria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Egypt, France, Georgia, Gibraltar, Greece, Israel, Italy, Lebanon, Libya, Malta, Montenegro, Morocco, Palestinian Territory, Romania, Russian Federation, Slovenia, Spain, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey and Ukraine (BirdLife International 2015a). The species is known to breed in France, Italy, Malta, Algeria, Tunisia, Croatia, Albania, and Greece (BirdLife International 2015a), and could possibly be breeding in Bulgaria Bulgaria (breeding was indicated in 1960s but has not been confirmed since then) and Turkey too, but so far no colonies have been identified and more surveys are needed (D. Sahin in litt. 2015). A small population may also breed on the eastern Balearic Islands in Spain, although the existence of the species here is somewhat controversial, given the taxonomic uncertainty of the birds breeding in Menorca (Arcos 2011, Curé et al. 2010, Genovart et al. 2012). Thus, the main breeding colonies are concentrated in the central and eastern basin of the Mediterranean, from Sardinia through the central Mediterranean, the Adriatic and the Aegean (Borg et al. 2010). Countries Breeding Non- Breeding Albania X X Algeria X X Bulgaria X X Croatia X X Cyprus X France X X Gibraltar X Greece X X Israel X Italy X X Lebanon X Malta X X Montenegro? Romania X Russia X Slovenia X Spain (X) X Tunisia X X Turkey X Ukraine X Table 1. Countries of occurrence for Yelkouan Shearwater (vagrant records excluded) Figure 1. Geographic range for Yelkouan Shearwater. IUCN 2016 This gives a Yelkouan Shearwater extent of occurrence (IUCN, 2016) of c. 2,960,000 km 2, but a smaller area of occupancy due to the patchy insular distribution of the species. p a g e 7

8 4. HABITAT INFORMATION The Yelkouan Shearwater nests in rocky cavities under rocky blocks and in burrows out in the ground, although sometimes it could be found in human constructions too (Bourgeois & Vidal 2007). This species have a preference for breeding sites which facilitate nest building (Bourgeois et al. 2008b) and which provide protection (Bourgeois & Vidal 2007, Bourgeois et al. 2008b, Bourgeois et al. 2014) against external environmental conditions and predators, since the female lays one single egg and breeding success needs to be warranted (Bourgeois & Vidal 2007). Thus, it breeds exclusively on rocky islands or islets in colonies of variable size, either monospecific or mixed (in association with Scopoli s Shearwater Calonectris diomedea), which means that its colonies are generally found on littoral cliffs or rocky scree with variable vegetation cover (Bourgeois et al. 2008b). Birds start attending the breeding colonies in November (prospection), mate in February and start laying their eggs in March, with hatching occurring at the end of April-beginning of May, and fledging in July (Bourgeois et al. 2008a). In Greek colonies a temporal shift in the breeding cycle was noticed, as the species breeds about a month later than in central and western Mediterranean colonies (Fric & Portolou 2016). Islands occupied by Yelkouan Shearwaters in Italy are averagely larger than those occupied by Scopoli's Shearwaters, and most of them is also inhabited by the Black Rat Rattus rattus (Capizzi et al. 2010, Baccetti et al. 2009, Ruffino et al. 2009). The species congregates in up to several thousands of birds close to colonies during the breeding period (Thibault & Bonaccorsi 1999, Zotier 1999, Fric & Portolou 2016, Portolou 2014), although the foraging grounds can be located at a few hundred kms usually over continental shelf areas (Péron et al. 2013). Migratory movements have recently been studied in France, Italy and Malta using telemetry (Militao et al. 2013, Péron et al. 2013, Raine et al. 2013) and it seems that the species migrates mostly to the Eastern Mediterranean and the Black Sea during the post-breeding period whereas some individuals stay relatively close to their breeding areas (Militao et al. 2013, Péron et al. 2013, Raine et al. 2013), as described in earlier studies (e.g. Bourne et al. 1988, Nankinov 2001). During the breeding period, the Yelkouan Shearwater is a pelagic bird with lengthy trips at sea and is mostly coastal (< 20 km from the shore, Péron et al. 2013). It travels on average 428 km before returning to the colony to feed its chick (Péron et al. 2013). Birds feed exclusively on small pelagic prey such as anchovy (Engraulis encrasicholus), sardine (Sardina pilchardus) and sprat (Sprattus sprattus), although it also makes extensive use of discards (Arcos 2001), and likely other marine prey such as planktonic crustaceans (Bourgeois et al. 2011). The species comes to land only for breeding. However, it tends to forage in continental shelf waters throughout the year (Péron et al. 2013), often in productive areas associated with river runoffs and other factors enhancing productivity. p a g e 8

9 B. Deceuninck Example of breeding site of Yelkouan Shearwater (Port-Cros Island, France) p a g e 9

10 5. POPULATION SIZE The global population of the Yelkouan Shearwater has been estimated to be around 46,000-92,000 individuals and 15,300-30,500 breeding pairs (Derhé 2012a). This figure seems up to date with regard to current knowledge of population sizes provided by the answers to the questionnaire circulated to national contributors (Table 5) prior to the compilation of this status report (Table 2). However, observations of up to 90,000 birds passing across the Bosphorus in a few hours (Şahin et al. 2012) suggest that the global figure might be slightly larger, and certainly well over the lower confidence limit for the individuals estimate presented above. Countries Breeding pairs Non-breeding individuals Albania 1 10 Algeria Bulgaria Croatia Cyprus France Gibraltar Greece Israel Italy Lebanon Malta Montenegro Romania Russia Slovenia Spain ( ) Tunisia Turkey Ukraine Total Table 2. Population size of Yelkouan Shearwater The known breeding colonies are located in Italy (12,000 19,000 pairs), Greece (7,000 10,000 p.), Malta (1,370 2,000 p., Barbara 2015), France (627 1,044 p.), Croatia ( p.), Tunisia ( p.), Algeria ( p.), Albania (1 10 p.) and Bulgaria (0 10 p.). As a result, the up-dated global breeding population is estimated to be around 21,500 32,800 bp. In Spain, Menorca (NE Balearic Islands) holds a population of about breeding pairs (medium quality estimations) of Puffinus spp. This population is of uncertain taxonomy, and could be a contact zone between P. yelkouan and P. mauretanicus, the Balearic Shearwater. These birds are generally treated as mauretanicus, but several individuals show phenotypic and/or genotypic traits that are characteristic of yelkouan (Genovart et al. 2012). It is important to note that the estimation of breeding population is largely based on inferences, e.g. derived from counting flocks at sea, or from extrapolation information from small plots to whole islands, which may lead to high imprecision and error (Bibby et al. 1992; Brichetti & Fracasso 2003). For instance, the presence of shearwaters p a g e 10

11 at sea does not guarantee that the species breeds on nearby islands as the species spends long non-breeding stages at sea. Thus, the high breeding numbers given in the past for some large populations (Italy, Greece and Turkey) were speculative and could be overestimates of 5 10 times the actual figure (Bourgeois & Vidal 2008). On the other hand, the high figures reported at the Bosphorus open the possibility that the breeding population could be larger than currently acknowledged, either because some colonies are underestimated, or because there are colonies still pending to be discovered. With regards to non-breeding population sizes, estimates are even more inaccurate. Algeria estimated individuals (poor quality) in 2007, Bulgaria 0-50,000 (good quality) for the period , Greece 25,000-40,000 (medium quality) for the period , Lebanon wintering individuals (good quality) for the period , Morocco (medium quality), Romania 7,000-10,000 (good quality) in 2013, Romania>12,000 (poor quality) since 1995, Spain 5,000-15,000 (medium quality) for the period , Tunisia (good quality) and Turkey ,044 (good quality) for the period The other countries could not provide any estimation of their non-breeding sizes. 6. BREEDING POPULATION TREND As monitoring programmes have not been set up yet for all the countries where the Yelkouan Shearwater occurs, it is therefore difficult to evaluate a global population trend for this species. The main breeding colonies occur in Italy, Greece and Malta, representing around three-quarters of the global known population. Eight known colonies have gone extinct in France, Italy and Malta over the last 60 years, probably representing breeding pairs. Population trends in Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece and Turkey are currently unknown, but declines are suspected in Croatia and Greece. Combining data for population extinctions and declines, the main Yelkouan Shearwater populations for which approximate trend data are available (France, Italy and Malta), may have decreased by 12-15% (i.e. 1,500-2,500 breeding pairs) during the last 60 years (Bourgeois & Vidal 2008). These declining trends are supported by capture-mark-recapture data combined with population modelling in France and Malta (Oppel et al. 2011). Increased population sizes reported from many countries are mainly attributed to an increase of monitoring effort. In Algeria, the breeding population seems to have been decreasing since Estimations from 1960 pointed out that there were pairs (poor quality estimation), but this figure has decreased to pairs since In Croatia, breeding population trend is unknown due to lack of systematic breeding success censuses. Those few surveys conducted indicate low breeding success on main colonies due to rat predation. In France, the real trend of its breeding population is unknown (poor quality). Further to the latest studies, the breeding population seems to have increased 115%-152% (poor quality) since 1995, however, as there are real difficulties to conduct census of this cavity-nesting and nocturnal species (mainly due to limited access to many of the colonies and to insufficient investment of time and human resources), experts ensure that the population has been underestimated in the past (1990s) and so, precise population trends cannot be evaluated accurately. Therefore, the recent higher population estimate does not indicate a population increase. As an example, the percentage of cavity occupancy of Yelkouan Shearwaters in the Hyères archipelago is quite low when compared to other Puffinus species, a fact which indicates that one cannot be very optimistic about the interpretation of the trend. In fact, demographic data suggest a negative trend for these colonies, of about 6% per year, due to low adult survival (Oppel et al. 2011). In Italy, the breeding population has been decreasing (poor quality) at a rate of 20-50% since Nevertheless, local totals seem to show an opposite trend, also due to improved nest monitoring, as in France. p a g e 11

12 In Malta, a decreasing trend (poor quality) of 10-20% has been observed since This negative trend is supported by demographic data as population growth rates were estimated between and in (Oppel et al. 2011). In Tunisia, a decrease of 10-20% has been estimated since In Spain, if we assume that part of the Puffinus spp. breeding colonies correspond to Puffinus yelkouan, according to local ornithologists an overall decline has occurred since 1960; however, no proper monitoring has been conducted yet for Menorca. The trend of the neighbouring Balearic shearwater colonies in Menorca, however, is alarmingly low (13% decline per year), and there s no reason to believe that the Menorcan population is in better conditions (Genovart et al. 2016). In terms of the non-breeding population, most of the countries cannot present estimations for this trend, however, Lebanon, Malta and Romania confirm a decreasing trend since 1995, that corresponds to 65-80% (good quality), 0-20% (poor quality) and 35-50% (poor quality) respectively. 7. CONSERVATION AND LEGAL STATUS The Yelkouan Shearwater is listed in the EU Birds Directive Annex I 1 and in Annex II of the Bern Convention 2. With regard to IUCN Red List criteria, it has been globally up-listed from Near-threatened to Vulnerable (A4bcde 3 ) since The Yelkouan Shearwater has a large range (c. 2,960,000 km 2 ), and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criteria (B and D2). However the actual available habitats for breeding remain rather limited (i.e. small percentage of coastline is suitable for Yelkouan Shearwater nesting; Bourgeois et al. 2008b,Portolou, in litt.). Its population size is also moderately large, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population size criteria (C and D1). However, the population is firmly thought to be declining rapidly at a rate which, if continued over three generations (54 years, based on a generation length estimated by BirdLife to be 18 years), may have resulted in an overall population decline of >30%, which definitely reaches the threshold for listing this species as Vulnerable under criterion A. Further to the recent hypothesis supporting that the European breeding population has been increasing within the last few years due to the implementation of successful conservation measures, there has been a debate 4 about whether this species should continue to be considered Vulnerable (VU) or if it should be down-listed to Near Threatened (NT) or Least Concerned (LC). Strong evidence has been provided by experts that advise to keep this species as Vulnerable, attributing the possible enhancement of the species status to better monitoring efforts and to improve monitoring methods, since no evidence of any potential recovery of the species has been provided. The Yelkouan Shearwater is indeed protected in: Bulgaria (through the National Biodiversity Law -Article 37, Annex III), France (through the Nature Conservation Law, 1976), Greece, Lebanon (through the Hunting Law), Malta, Romania, Tunisia and Italy. In Spain, Puffinus yelkouan is currently protected through the List of wild species under special protection (in Spanish Listado de Especies Silvestres en Régimen de Protección Especial 5 ), legally 1 Bird Directive (79/147/EC) available on L Convention on th econservation of European wildlife and natural habitats (Bern Convention) available on 3 IUCN Red List foryelkouan Shearwater Puffinus yelkouan available on details/summary/ /0 4 BirdLife webpage on yelkouan Shearwater available on p a g e 12

13 regulated by the Act. Nevertheless, in Algeria, Libya, Morocco and Turkey, the Yelkouan Shearwater remains unprotected so far (there are no laws or national action plans that contribute to its protection). In terms of the coverage of breeding sites with legal protection status, the Yelkouan Shearwater presents the following figures in each country: In Bulgaria, the national breeding population in IBAs correspond to 0-10%. On the other hand, there is no available information about the size of the national breeding population in SPAs or whether there are breeding populations in protected areas under national law. In Croatia, % of the national breeding popluation occur within SPAs, 50-70% in protected areas under national law. In France, % of breeding population occurs in IBAs, 50-90% in SPAs, and % in protected areas under national law. In Greece, 100% of the breeding population nests in IBAs. Approximately, 94% of the breeding population (90-100%) is covered by SPAs (6,700-9,500 bp) and 1-10% is covered by protected areas under national law. In Malta, the occurrence of the Yelkouan Shearwater breeding population in IBAs corresponds to 75-85% in SPAs, and to 80-90% in protected areas under national law. Malta declared in 2016 four marine protected areas (SPA) for Yelkouan Shearwaters in the Fishing Management Zone (25nm) after been identified the areas as marine IBAs by the LIFE+ Malta Seabird Project LIFE10 NAT/MT/090. In Italy, % of the Yelkouan Shearwater national breeding population is estimated to occur in IBAs and 50-90% in SPAs. In Lebanon, around % of the national population occurs in IBAs. In Romania, up to % of its population is estimated to occur in IBAs. In Tunisia, 0-10% of its population is estimated to occur in IBAs and around 0-10% in protected areas under national law. In Turkey, the national and global population occurring in IBAs is estimated to be around % of its total, with 100% of the national population occurring in a single marine IBA (Bosporus and probably in Dardanelles too, which is an IBA but not registered as a Marine IBA yet) for short periods of time while migrating between Black and Mediterranean seas. p a g e 13

14 Coverage of the species in networks of sites with legal protection status Country National legal status Conservation measures Monitoring schemes % national breeding population in IBAs In EU, % national breeding population in SPAs % breeding population in protected areas under national law National YS action plan National YS working group National monitoring programmes Monitoring programmes in protected areas Estimated Estimated Estimated Algeria Unprotected No No No No 0-10% Bulgaria "Protected" No No Yes No 0-10% Croatia Protected No No No Yes 0% % 50-70% France Protected No No Yes Yes % 50-90% % Greece Protected No No Yes Yes % % 0-10% Italy Protected No Yes Yes Yes % 50-90% 0-10% Lebanon "Protected" No No No Yes % Libya Unprotected No No No No 0-10% 0-10% 0-10% Malta Protected No No No Yes 50-90% 50-90% 50-90% Morocco Unprotected No No Yes No 0-10% 0-10% 0-10% Romania Protected No No Yes Yes % Spain Protected No No No No % % Tunisia Protected Yes Yes No Yes 0-10% 0-10% 0-10% Turkey Unprotected No No No No % Ukraine????? Table 3. Summary of the legal status, conservation measures and coverage of the species in network of sites with legal protection for the Yelkouan Shearwater by countries. p a g e 14

15 8. THREATS In general terms, the decline of this species is mainly caused by low adult survival rates that is too low to maintain stable populations. Low breeding success is also a secondary parameter which contributes to the decline but does not drive it. Where they occurred in the past, the causes of known colony extinctions are not clear, but authors suggested harvesting and predation by Black Rats Rattus rattus and, to a lesser extent, Feral Cats Felis catus (Vigne et al. 1991, Arcamone & Sposimo 2002, Baccetti et al. 2016, Sposimo et al. 2012, Capizzi et al. 2010, Fric & Portolou 2016). As shown by studies led in France, Malta and Italy (to a lesser extent), currently the most serious threat to the species is mortality from incidental fishing bycatch, especially in Malta (Oppel et al. 2011), followed by predation by invasive predators (predominantly Black Rats and Feral Cats). The impact of incidental bycatch on Yelkouan Shearwaters has also been detected in Spain in more recent years (even if demersal long-liners affect the species on an irregular basis, when this occurs, it can impact fairly large numbers at a time; Arcos et al. 2008, ICES 2008, ICES 2013). Increasing tourism and coastal urbanization and development in the Mediterranean have also been identified as threats because they create sound and light disturbance and damage fragile breeding habitats. Other suspected threats are: reduced abundance of fish preys (mainly anchovies, sardines and sprats) due to fisheries overexploitation and other pressures, oil spills, competition for nest sites with Scopoli s Shearwaters, collisions with wind turbines, pollution and contaminants, environmental events (toxic algal blooms, geological erosion) and illegal killing. In Algeria, the factors threatening this species are mainly oil pollution and human disturbance (fishing, egg and chick harvesting), since tourism in the islands coincides with the breeding period. Moreover, the presence of Black Rat (Rattus rattus) on islands causes the failure of breeding. In Croatia, the main known threat to the breeding population is rat predation which occurs on most major colonies. In France, several factors are likely to affect population size and habitat occupancy of this species, such as predation pressure, inter-specific competition, mortality at sea and food availability (data from Bourgeois in litt. & Bourgeois et al. 2015). While both mortality at sea and food availability, are only scarcely documented, predation by Feral Cats (Felis catus) is a serious threat to the Yelkouan Shearwater populations on islands (Bonnaud et al. 2009, Bonnaud et al. 2012). Annual adult survival on Hyères islands was % ( ), varying according to bird status (breeder vs. non-breeder) and to site (Port-Cros vs. Porquerolles; Oppel et al. 2011). This survival was slightly higher on Port-Cros Island, where the Feral Cat population has been controlled and where this predation pressure was eliminated, than on Porquerolles Island, where Feral Cats have not been controlled yet. However, neither Port-Cros nor Porquerolles annual survival probabilities are at a level that would allow sustainable stable populations, suggesting that a great threat to the persistence of colonies in France is human-caused mortality at sea. Furthermore, while the breeding success on Porquerolles Island was within the range of values observed in other Puffinus species under introduced predator pressure (particularly Black Rats Rattus rattus) ( : mean ± sd = 50.6 ± 14.7%, range %), it was quite high on Port-Cros ( : 75.2 ± 20.8%, %) and Le Levant ( : 77.5 ± 5.7%, %) Islands. Proved predation by Black Rats seems to be generally low on the Hyères islands. But some years, peaks of predation do occur in this colony, reducing breeding success to less than 20% and cases of egg and chick disappearance are probably to be attributed to Black Rats. The same causes of breeding failures are observed in other Procellariiformes in similar proportions (i.e. p a g e 15

16 egg sterility, incubation problems resulting in the egg not being incubated). Failures due to lack of parental experience, intra- and/or inter-specific competition (with Scopoli s Shearwaters Calonectris diomedea) and burrow collapsing due to habitat deterioration occurred at a higher rate on Porquerolles Island. Breeding habitat seems to be more saturated and less stable on this island.. Finally, predation by Ladder Snakes Rhinechis scalaris contributes to the lower breeding success on Porquerolles Island. In Italy, annual breeding success may change according to demographic fluctuations of rat populations. Data on this topic (very localised and with reduced sample sizes) suggest that islands with rats fledge juvs/pair. In contrast, sites where rats were removed have higher success (> juvs/pair) and show signs of reoccupation of those suitable holes. Other than that, the impact of domestic cats on the main colony (Tavolara Island) is likely medium-high. Finally, Peregrine Falcons (Falco peregrinus) and Barn Owls (Tyto alba) may locally impact on prefledging juveniles too. In Malta, light pollution at sea from bunkering areas, oil platforms and other at sea structures may be an important threat for some colonies. It is being studied by the EU-LIFE Arċipelagu Garnija project LIFE14 NAT/MT/991. In Spain, even if no proper monitoring for Menorca has been conducted, predation by cats is important, and an overall decline has occurred according to local ornithologists. In Tunisia, rat predation has been identified as major threat since a strong increase in the Yelkouan shearwater breeding population followed rat eradication on Zembretta Island (Bourgeois et al. 2013, Ouni in litt.). Predation by Peregrine Falcons on pre-fledging juveniles may also affect this population. In Greece, systematic monitoring of specific breeding colonies commenced in 2014 and although no robust breeding success data are still available, rat predation seems to affect a substantial proportion of nests (possibly >30%; Fric & Portolou 2016). In addition, bycatch in bottom long-lines is estimated at a rate of inds / 1000 hooks while rare mass mortality events have been recorded in fishing nets (ICES 2013). In Turkey, threats are suspected and not yet documented. The possible threats suspected are: suitable habitats loss and degradation, Mega Development Projects, pollution (Black and Marmara Seas), vessel traffic in the narrow migration bottleneck (i.e. the Bosphorus and the Dardanelles), overfishing (Black and Marmara Seas). A project on by-catch in long-line fisheries is running in the Aegean Sea and the data will be provided in few years. In short, declines have probably been unnoticed for years, and are projected to continue if nothing is undertaken to reduce pressures. Factors threatening this species by countries and their intensity are provided in Table 4. B. Deceuninck Burrow occupied by a pair of breeding Yelkouan Shearwater in Port-Cros Island (France) p a g e 16

17 Count ries Algeria Bulgaria Croatia France Greece Lebanon Libya Malta Morocco Romania Spain Tunisia Turkey Ukraine Italy Habitat loss /degradation breeding High Not relevant Low Low/Medium Low Low Not relevant High Not relevant Not relevant Medium Not relevant Low Habitat loss/degradation wintering Not relevant Not relevant Low Low Low Low Medium Low Low Low Low Not relevant Low Harvesting Medium Not relevant Not relevant Not relevant Not relevant Low Not relevant Not relevant Not relevant Low Not relevant Not relevant Not relevant By-catch in long line fishing Medium Low Unknown High/critical High Low Low High Low Medium Critical Medium Medium High By-catch in fishing nets Medium Low Low High High High Low High Medium Medium Medium Medium Low Low Decreasing fish stocks Critical Medium Medium Medium/High Medium Medium Medium Medium Low Medium Low Low Medium Pollution breeding High Not relevant Low Low/Medium Low Not relevant Not relevant Medium Not relevant Not relevant? Low Low Pollution wintering High Low Low Medium Low High Medium Medium Not relevant Medium Low Low Not relevant Human disturbance breeding High Not relevant Low Low/Medium Low Not relevant Not relevant High Not relevant Not relevant Medium Low Low Human disturbance wintering Low Not relevant Not relevant Low Low Medium Low Low Low Low Not relevant Low Not relevant Threats Predation by rats on eggs & chicks Medium Not relevant Critical Medium/High Medium Not relevant Not relevant Critical Not relevant Not relevant Medium High Critical Predation by cats on eggs & chicks Not relevant Not relevant Not relevant Medium/High Not relevant Not relevant Not relevant Low Not relevant Not relevant Medium Not relevant High Predation by cats on adults Not relevant Not relevant Not relevant Critical Not relevant Not relevant Not relevant Low Not relevant Not relevant Critical Not relevant High Competition with other species High Low Low Low/Medium Low Not relevant Not relevant Medium Not relevant Not relevant Not relevant Not relevant Not relevant Tourism High Medium Low Predation by raptors & owls Not relevant Not relevant Medium Low Aquaculture Not relevant Low Low Marine traffic/habitat degradation Not relevant Locally high Locally high Artificial lighting/ Light pollution Not relevant Low High High Plastic pollution causing mortality Low Not relevant Low Bloom of exotic algae Not relevant Not relevant Medium Renewables Not relevant Medium Not relevant Table 4. Summary of the factors threatening this species by countries and their intensity, when known. p a g e 17

18 9. CONSERVATION ACTIONS UNDERWAY AND FUNDED PROJECTS At international level, this threatened species needs coordinated conservation efforts and a clear shared strategy. Nowadays, although there is no international action plan yet for it, one is already being prepared by La Ligue pour la Protection des Oiseaux (LPO) under the LIFE EuroSAP Project, in collaboration with the stakeholders from most range countries, forming the Yelkouan Shearwater working group. Several conservation actions for this species have been partly funded through EU LIFE programs (Raine et al. 2007; Fric et al. 2012; IMEP 2007; Sposimo et al. 2012) and their results are worth to be taken into consideration in the species action plan, since the methodology developed in these programs is valuable to implement conservation actions elsewhere, in the range of the Yelkouan Shearwater. In particular, aerial based rat eradications have been undertaken on large sized Italian islands. In Bulgaria, surveys have been done since 2012 on non-regular basis, within the framework of the Project Preparing the basis for an inventory of Marine Important Bird Areas along the southern Black Sea Coast (Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey) (Doga Dernegi 2014), in collaboration with BSPB/BirdLife Bulgaria and the Black Sea Basin Directorate. These surveys are partially conducted within protected areas. The objectives of the surveys under the Black Sea Seabirds Project were to identify potential marine protected areas along the Bulgarian coast, based on confirmed feeding and roosting sites. The objectives of the surveys conducted under the collaboration between BSPB and the Black Sea Basin Directorate are as follows: in 2015 to enhance the monitoring programme for seabirds under D1,4 of MSFD; in 2016 to initiate the monitoring under D1,4 of MSFD for the 2018 reporting deadline. The methods used are European Seabirds at Sea (ESAS) and coastal counts. Before 2012, as well as currently, some sporadic observations have been made from land, in various parts of the Bulgarian coast, mainly by birdwatchers and volunteers. BSPB has created a database where all available data are collated, including, as an example, the data collected during the International mid-winter. In Croatia, non-systematic colony surveys have been carried out since Lastovo archipelago, which covers estimated more than half of national population has become a Nature Park since Nature Park staff perform non-systematic rat eradication and monitoring on major colonies. No major funded projects on this species have been conducted. In France, the species is included in the national seabird census programme implemented every 10 years. There is no standardized method for this programme. Monitoring actions of breeding success and burrow occupancy, ringing and ring controls are undertaken every year on the colonies in Port-Cros, Porquerolles and in Riou islands, where annual censuses are also made in the latter, within the Calanques National Park. This National Park is currently working on an assessment study for the proposed rat eradication of this important seabird island, a project that should benefit to seabirds, with Yelkouan Shearwater as a triggered species. Within the Port-Cros National Park (Port-Cros and Porquerolles islands), rat populations are controlled on some colonies. Feral Cat populations are controlled on Port-Cros Island and actions to be performed to control these populations on Porquerolles and Le Levant islands are under consideration. Breeding habitat is improved (stabilization, interspecific competition reduction) by installing artificial burrows on Port-Cros, Porquerolles and Riou islands. In Greece, non-systematic colony surveys have been carried out since 1997, where the breeding population size has been estimated from acoustic activity and raft counts in most colonies. Some systematic colony monitoring activities have been undertaken in 2 colony sites (Gyaros and Makares islets), with nest density estimation using sample plots and consecutive raft counts. In addition, more systematic coastal counts have been carried out in 4 locations where species migration is prominent, which have provided better estimates of migrating populations and also helped in delineation of migration bottlenecks as marine IBAs (Kavala Gulf, Lesvos island, Evvoikos Gulf and Makronisos Strait). Gyaros colony, one of the largest (perhaps the largest) colony in Greece, is the target of a p a g e 18

19 monitoring programme since 2014 (when the colony was located), in collaboration with WWF Greece (LIFE CYCLADES project LIFE12 NAT/GR/000688) and NCC (Nature Conservation Consultants Ltd.). The current monitoring work, based on raft counts, acoustic night surveys, thermal camera and radar use, is related to the improvement of the estimation of the breeding population size. Furthermore, nests are located and marked, breeding parameters recorded and sample plots assessed for nest density. Telemetry efforts has been carried out in Finally, in Makares colony (located in 2007), sample plots were carried out in order to improve population estimates. Coastal surveys and telemetry efforts were carried out as well, and in 2016, night surveys with the use of thermal camera and radar were implemented. In 2016, through the LIFE13NAT/GR/ project, rat eradication was performed on all three islets of the Makares complex. In Italy, there are some active LIFE projects aiming at removing rats from islands, along with a local monitoring, including one on Tavolara Island which hosts 50% of the world estimated population. Several local birding groups have started being active on this species in the last 3-4 years across the country, improving the available data on the distribution and size of some colonies. In Malta, the population of Yelkouan Shearwater and its breeding success (subsamples) will be assessed and monitored from as part of an EU funded project Arcipelagu Garnija LIFE14 NAT/MT/991 covering areas inside relevant N2K sites. The project will assess the main threats which is an implementation of concrete conservations measures to reduce rat predation, light pollution and disturbance in the colonies. In Lebanon, all bird species on Palm Islands Nature Reserve (IBA-Ramsar Site-SPA-SPAMI) and its waters are subject to a monitoring programme. It was developed in cooperation with IUCN and the American University of Beirut and is annually implemented by the president of the committee and the team of rangers of the reserve. In Romania, there are coastal counts along the Romanian Black Sea, within the frame of the inventory of Marine Important Bird Areas along the southern Black Sea Coast (involving also Bulgaria and Turkey) (Doga Dernegi 2014). Ten fixed points are selected and visited on a monthly basis since 2013, under the project Preparing the basis for an inventory of Marine Important Bird Areas along the southern Black Sea Coast (Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey). Apart from the coastal counts, several boat trips were performed using ESAS methodology. Since 2014, monitoring efforts are not so regular, but observations are still made, mostly by volunteers. There is only one marine Natura 2000 area in Romania, but it covers the whole coastal waters of the Black Sea (ROSPA0076 Black Sea).In short, three main survey techniques are used in Romania: coastal counts, boat trips using ESAS methodology and occasional observations are recorded and stored in the bird database of Romanian Ornithological Society. In Spain, the implementation of the MSFD is based on two monitoring programmes applicable to the Yelkouan Shearwater: censuses at sea (AV3) and bycatch (AV4). These programmes were defined in 2014, but have not yet been implemented. The Yelkouan Shearwater is not a target species in Spain, nevertheless these programmes will allow collecting information on the species. In Tunisia, there is a national action plan funded by 1) the Agency of Protection and Management of Coastal area and 2) the Coastal Conservancy, in collaboration with Initiative des petites îles méditérranéennes (PIM) cofunded by the French agency of coastline protection Conservatoire du Littoral. This work is part of the ongoing program (since 2006) of monitoring the breeding seabirds on the Zembra archipelago. Also, particular attention is accorded to the Scopoli s Shearwater on Zembra island and the evolution of the population of Yelkouan Shearwater on Zembretta islet, especially after the rat eradication campaign implemented in 2009 in the protected area of Zembretta and Zembrettina (Zembra archipelago). Surveys on egg laying, hatching time and fledging are conducted annually by direct count, bird banding and burrows marking. p a g e 19

20 In Turkey, Yelkouan Shearwater s movements in the Bosporus have been monitored each February (when the highest number of Yelkouan Shearwaters is passing through) by a small team of volunteer birdwatchers (at least two experienced observers) since The established point to conduct the survey is Rumeli Hisari, the narrowest part of the Bosporus. Birds are counted from early morning to midday, every day during the first week of February. Otherwise, a preliminary study has also been conducted in the Dardanelles and the Marmara Sea, where data both on the movements and on the number of Yelkouan Shearwaters have been collected through coastal and shipbased counts. Another preliminary research has also been done to check the suitability of some islands along the Aegean and western Mediterranean Coasts of Turkey for breeding Yelkouan Shearwater. As well, a seabird bycatch project has been initiated in the Aegean Sea to quantify the rate of by-catch in long-line fisheries in a pilot harbour, which is still ongoing. Coastal counts are also organised along the Black Sea, within the frame of the inventory of Marine Important Bird Areas along the southern Black Sea Coast, involving also Bulgaria and Romania (Doga Dernegi 2014). In Morocco, there has been a national monitoring programme conducted by the BirdLife Morocco since 2009, within marine IBAs. There is an ongoing waterbird census, which provides some census data on marine birds. No information have been provided about the situation in Ukraine and Russia, while these countries are responsible of parts of the Black Sea which are of the greatest value for Yelkouan Shearwater non-breeding population, and its survival. These countries also are responsible for industrial fishing and pollution pressures, which are the main threats for the species at sea during the non-breeding period. B. Deceuninck Trap used to control cats which predate breeding Yelkouan Shearwaters on Port-Cros Island (France) p a g e 20

21 10. CONSERVATION ACTIONS PROPOSED, RESEARCH NEEDED AND MONITORING NEEDED In order to improve the status of the Yelkouan Shearwater, research efforts should focus on the following nonexhaustive list derived from the inventory of ongoing projects detailed here over (9.): extensive demographic monitoring; assess overall mortality rates and study the species demographic parameters; search for new (breeding) colonies at sites; census of known breeding colonies; continue counts during breeding and non-breeding periods in the Bosporus and possibly at other bottleneck sites; developing effective monitoring methods in important migration bottlenecks through which large proportion of the global population is migrating (e.g. the Bosporus and the Dardanelles); monitor the impact of mortality from fisheries by-catch, and work in developing and testing effective mitigation measures; monitor the impact of introduced predators and thus assess the effectiveness of predator control; identify priority sites for predator control action; implement predator control campaigns in the most important sites identified; encourage policymakers to implement and enforce measures that reduce accidental by-catch; identify and implement measures to reduce/ mitigate the effects of light pollution; improving the knowledge on the species status and threats in the Black Sea; research on ecological requirements; search for breeding colonies in countries (especially in the Eastern Mediterranean) where breeding is strongly suspected but no study has undertaken so far (e.g. Turkey). More specifically, oceanographic and fisheries data (identification of prey, distribution of prey, which fish species are being fished, etc.) from across the Mediterranean can be related to seabird distribution data to identify by-catch hotspots and over-exploited stocks/areas. Research should also be conducted on the scale of Mediterranean and Black Sea fisheries in order to assess correlation between species population trends and trends in fishing effort. In that case, using habitat modelling for overlap analysis of birds and fishing effort distribution could be very useful. To produce really useful and representative range-wide data and models, more data are needed from the core of the species range e.g. Italy and Greece, which hold the largest known populations. The classification of coastal and marine reserves in Algeria is expected. Habibas island is now the only marine reserve, which probably includes a small non breeding population of Yelkouan Shearwater. In Bulgaria, surveys are proposed to identify marine areas to be protected off-shore. In Croatia, more effort in rat eradication is needed on main colonies, especially Zaklopatica which has almost quarter of national population. Also more effort is needed to identify other possibly significant threats such as bycatch, overfishing, disturbance, light pollution etc. In France, monitoring should continue within Calanques and Port-Cros National Parks. Populations need to be monitored on Le Levant Island which hosts the biggest French population of the Yelkouan Shearwater. Feral Cat populations need to be controlled/eradicated on Porquerolles and Le Levant islands. A method to efficiently control rat populations on colonies needs to be developped. A standardized census method needs to be defined and regularly (every 5-10 years) implemented on Hyères islands (Port-Cros, Porquerolles, Le Levant). Fishery bycatch needs to be assessed. p a g e 21

22 In Greece, HOS plans to continue colony monitoring and telemetry where possible, produce more accurate estimates on bycatch and rat predation mortality, launch of the compilation of a national Species Action Plan within 2017 and carry out sensitivity mapping analysis in order to propose exclusion zones from the planning development process. In Italy, the 4 following actions are proposed: 1. continue monitoring; 2. measure the breeding success at least on the 3 islands where large conservation actions have been / are being undertaken (Molara, Montecristo, Tavolara); 3. improve population data quality on the other occupied islands; 4. assess the impact of fisheries and bycatch, which is almost unknown at present. In Libya, a sea survey is needed to better estimate population size at sea. The Moroccan rare bird committee is considering the species for homologation to better understand its distribution and its migration phenology throughout the country. As well, birdwatchers should get more familiar with the identification of this species. In Spain, surveys at sea in protected areas are required. In Tunisia, monitoring should continue on Zembretta Island. The impact of predation by Peregrine Falcons and incidental bycatch by fisheries needs to be evaluated. In Turkey, the Yelkouan Shearwater is on the list of species for which a national species action plan is expected to be prepared. Although the creation of a species action plan for Yelkouan Shearwater is scheduled for 2016, no step has been taken yet neither by the Ministry nor by the researchers that proposed it as a target species. There is no funding available from the government but an early career scientist is expected to take over the work. No colonies have been identified so far in Turkey where the Yelkouan Shearwater could also be breeding (D. Sahin in litt. 2015). Though, more surveys are needed to clarify this point. p a g e 22