Birdlife’s Arċipelagu Garnija project has entered its third year with a new phase of conservation actions to tackle threats faced by Yelkouan shearwater populations in the Maltese Islands.

The project concluded its first phase at the end of 2017 which when Yelkouan shearwater populations and their threats around Malta and Gozo were monitored and assessed.

The main threats identified in the breeding colonies were predation by rats, light pollution from developed areas, littering left by visitors and disturbance by boats.

Based on the data collected during the first years, the project team is now implementing conservation action to reduce risks, including localised rat control programmes in colony sites to secure half of the Maltese population of Yelkouan shearwaters and increase reproductive success.

The project is working with local stakeholders and the public to reduce littering close to colonies, mainly at l-Irdum tal-Madonna and Comino.

Litter left by campers at l-Aħrax tal-Mellieħa and visitors to the Blue Lagoon maintained large rat populations that fed on shearwater eggs and chicks. In view of this the project is calling on site visitors to collect their rubbish and dispose of it in bins or carry it home.

Birdlife is also working with Transport Malta to reduce the disturbance of recreational boats that passed close to breeding seabird colonies in the cliffs and entered sea caves with loud music and lights by increasing awareness.

The project has also assessed and will now start addressing the threat of light pollution from land, mainly from developed areas such as St Paul’s Bay, and bunkering boats at sea, especially those refuelling in front of seabird colonies.

To mark the new stage of the project, BirdLife Malta launched the official Life Arċipelagu Garnija project video.