Marine Natura 2000 Progress Assessment Protection of marine Important Bird and Biodiversity

Natura 2000 for seabirds Spain is extremely important for seabirds; a major breeding and feeding ground for many threatened and endemic species, including Europe’s most threatened seabird, the Balearic

In July 2014, the Spanish Government designated 39 new marine SPAs, based on the

SEO/BirdLife (BirdLife Partner in Spain). Spain is now protecting over 90% of the

partially or in full). Spain is also protecting the largest area of marine habitat for seabirds of any other European Country, with over 5 million hectares of marine area protected. Due to Spain’s extensive EEZ area, this is equivalent to 5% of its EEZ (EU ranking: 11th). Overall, the recent designation of SPAs makes Spain one of the leaders in Europe for Natura 2000 sites for seabirds, particularly for offshore protection.

Next steps & priorities: Management plans are required for each of Spain’s marine Natura 2000 sites, to assess the threats to seabirds, monitor the populations at sites, and determine best practice for management. Done well, this will ensure that designation of Natura 2000 sites leads to real protection of Spain’s seabirds.

Resources:European Seabird Resource Hub http://www.birdlife.org/europe-and-central-asia/european-seabird-resource-hub-home

Marine E-atlas http://maps.birdlife.org/marineIBAs/default.html ;

Seabird Tracking Database, http://www.seabirdtracking.org/

mIBA inventory Arcos, J.M., J. Bécares, B. Rodríguez y A. Ruiz. (2009) Áreas Importantes para la Conservación de las Aves marinas en España. LIFE04NAT/ES/000049-Sociedad Española de Ornitología (SEO/BirdLife). Madrid. http://www.seo.org/avesmarinas/

Canary Islands

SPAIN

www.birdlife.org

Map showing overlap of marine Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas and Special Protection Areas (Natura 2000) sites. See larger map on next page.

Progress: Very good, terrestrial/coastal/

© Pep Arcos

Marine protectionNumber of sites

Area (ha)Area

Overlap (ha)

% Overlap

Marine Important

Biodiversity Areas

Coastal & Marine SPAs

Additional info EU Rank

Total Marine Area, Territorial Sea &

Exclusive Economic Zone, (ha)

100,352,452 2

Area of sea protected by SPAs (ha)

5163808 1

Percentage of marine area (territorial sea & exclusive economic zone) protected by

SPA

5% 11

Nº of seabird species protected in SPAs

61 1

SPAIN

164 5,691,055

Bird and 89 5,788,499

5,237,507 90%

Shearwater (Red List, Critically Endangered).

Spanish Inventory of marine IBAs, produced by

area determined by BirdLife as important for seabirds (82 out of 89 marine IBAs are protected

Areas (IBAs), and sites at sea for seabirds

offshore SPA network designated & high level of overlap with marine IBAs.

2014- Status update on marine IBAs and

SEO/BirdLife www.seo.org/

© Pep Arcos

Canary Islands

Map inset

Overlap of marine Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas and Special Protection Areas (Natura 2000) sites.

www.birdlife.org

SPAIN

SPAIN

Birdlife International Partner

Marine Natura 2000 Progress Assessment Protection of marine Important Bird and Biodiversity

MAP LEGEND

Marine Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas mIBA

Marine Area, Territorial Sea & Exclusive Economic Zone

Natura 2000, Special Protection Area (SPA)

Areas (IBAs), and sites at sea for seabirds