Saving Malta’s seabirds

A new research project will aim to safeguard the future of Malta’s seabirds.

It is being carried out by BirdLife Malta and the government with EU Life+ funding.

Together with three other successful Maltese initiatives, the Malta Seabirds Project was selected from over 700 proposed by EU member states last year for the funding.

The project will gather scientific knowledge about the status of important seabird species. Measures will be designed for their conservation and sites will be identified that are important to their survival and successful breeding within Malta’s 25-mile exclusive fishing zone.

Work is being carried out with the Malta Environment and Planning Authority to propose these Marine Special Protected Areas.

The Maltese islands are important breeding grounds to three Mediterranean species of seabirds: Cory’s Shearwater, Yelkouan Shearwater and European Storm Petrel.

On land, breeding colonies of these species enjoy a protected status as designated Special Protected Areas, forming part of the Natura 2000 network. However, Malta is obliged by the EC Birds Directive to also protect the marine habitat within its waters.

The project, which is 50 per cent funded by the EU’s Life unit, is the second on the island focusing on seabirds, following the successful completion of the Yelkouan Shearwater Project in 2010.

It is being led by BirdLife in collaboration with the Tourism, Culture and Environment Ministry, while the Royal Society for Protection of Birds and Sociedade Portuguesa para o Estudo das Aves are bringing experience on seabird research and establishing marine protected areas.