Completed Projects

Objetive: improve the management of RAMPE and fishing activities, by studying the distribution of the Audouin's gull and its interactions with fisheries

• 1. Determine the overlap of the distribution of Audouin's gull with the RAMPE.

  2. Characterize the interactions between seagulls and fishing vessels inside and outside RAMPE.

  3. Determine differential sensitivity to interactions and bycatch in relation to the age of seagulls.

  4. Enhance the current RAMPE for the conservation of marine biodiversity in general and of seabirds in particular.

Objective: RAMPE evaluation to improve fisheries and aquaculture management and conservation of pelagic and coastal birds in the Canary Islands and Spanish Levantine Coast.

• 1. Identify the main feeding areas of seabirds in the Canary Islands and the Spanish Levantine Coast.

  2. Analyze spatial consistency over the years and assess the possible suitability of a dynamic approach in the definition of RAMPE.

  3. Determine the type and degree of interaction of seabirds with fish farms and the fishing fleet in the Canary Islands and the Spanish Levantine Coast.

  4. Management proposals that improve the suitability of RAMPE as a conservation tool for pelagic and coastal birds in the Canary Islands and the Spanish Levantine Coast.

  5. Enhancement of RAMPE between fishermen and fish farmers.

Objective: Improve the knowledge and promote the conservation of Cape Verde seabirds.

1. Identify the main breeding areas for Cape Verde seabirds.

2. Monitoring the phenology and reproductive success of Cape Verde seabirds.

3. Identify and control the main threats both in the breeding areas and in the sea.

4. Determine the size and population trend of the different species of seabirds.

5. Knowing the foraging strategies and identify the most important feeding areas for seabirds during the breeding season.

6. Knowing the migration and the areas used outside the reproductive period.

7. Determination of the trophic ecology of each species through the analysis of regurgitated and stable isotopes and genetic analysis.

8. Training of biologists, protected area technicians and NGOs in research and monitoring techniques.

9. Raise awareness of the Cape Verdean population for the conservation of seabirds.

10. Preparation of an action and management plan for each seabird species of Cape Verde.

Conclusions:

1. The results show that the movements of birds can change remarkably throughout the different phases of the period reproductive. This implies that the exposure of birds to different threats.

2. The bathymetry and the distance to the breeding colony are the most influential variables when defining the feeding areas of these species.

3. The trawl fleet overlap was relevant for most species which requires a high degree of utilization of fishing discards by all these birds. Also, the high degree of overlap between the surface longline fleet and Calonectris borealis and C. diomedea, mainly due to the associated risk of accidental capture.

4. The high degree of overlap between these birds, certain fisheries and the current RAMPE has been verified. Specific areas have also been evidenced that are not currently included in the RAMPE.

Funded by National Programme for Fostering Excellence in Scientific and Technical Research. Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad

PI. Jacob González-Solís

2014 - 2016