Transport Malta has said that it is currently collaborating with BirdLife Malta’s `LIFE Arcipelagu Garnija’ project to reduce the impact of maritime activities on the protected Yelkouan Shearwater bird in the Maltese Islands.

Transport Malta said that this includes studies by BirdLife Malta on light-induced seabird ship strikes in the Maltese waters.

It went on to explain that mariners are requested to cooperate and support the research by reporting sightings immediately as follows: BirdLife Malta seabirds@birdlifemalta.org SMS/phone on mobile/whatsapp: +356 99894405.BirdLife Malta said that the Maltese Islands are home to approximately 10% of the world population of this shearwater species, therefore their protection is important on the global scale, especially with the population declines Yelkouan Shearwaters have been facing over the last decades.

The species is listed as ‘vulnerable’ by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) on its Red List of Threatened Species.

Light pollution in Europe is increasing by 5-10% annually and 99% of the European population lives under light-polluted skies – Light pollution is among the main threats faced by Yelkouan Shearwaters, BLM said.

These vulnerable seabirds are sensitive to light pollution and this was one of the main issues addressed by LIFE Arcipelagu Garnija. One of the objectives of the project was in fact to reduce light pollution around Yelkouan breeding colonies in Gozo and Malta.

Photo: BirdLife Malta

Permalink: Studies underway on light-induced seabird ship strikes around the Maltese Islands