Five years of action to protect the Mediterannean’s Yelkouan Shearwater

The LIFE PanPuffinus! Project focuses on the protection of two endangered and endemic Mediterranean seabirds: the Yelkouan Shearwater (Puffinus yelkouan) and the Balearic Shearwater (Puffinus mauretanicus).

These seabirds face serious threats throughout their entire life cycle. Through a unique cross-border collaboration, the program brings together experts and BirdLife partners from Malta, Greece, Spain, France, and Portugal, along with Aquatic Resources Malta and the Hellenic Agency for the Natural Environment and Climate Change.

The two species of shearwater are endemic to the Mediterranean and serve as important indicators of the health of marine ecosystems. By protecting them, the project contributes to the broader conservation of the Mediterranean and the Atlantic coasts of Portugal.

The main objective of LIFE PanPuffinus! is to understand and reduce the two main threats facing these seabirds, ensuring their survival in
the future. To achieve this, the project focuses on:

• working closely with fishermen to better document the extent of incidental bycatch in the Mediterranean Sea and along the Atlantic coast of Portugal

• testing mitigation measures to reduce the incidental capture of seabirds in various fishing gear

• implementing control and eradication of invasive predators, as well as biosecurity measures on seabird breeding islets

• engaging with stakeholders and raising awareness among fishermen, local authorities, and the general public