Balearic shearwater

Common Name: Balearic shearwater

Scientific Name: Puffinus mauretanicus

Description: This species breeds only in the Balearic Islands, where it nests on the small islands and coastal areas of Formentera, Ibiza, Mallorca, Cabrera and Menorca (Arcos and Oro, 2003). During the breeding season, the species forages mainly along the eastern Iberian coast, with the largest concentrations occurring off the Ebro Delta (Louzao et al., 2006a). After the breeding season, the species moves into the Atlantic, dispersing northwards along the coasts of Portugal and northwestern Spain to the traditional post-breeding grounds in the Bay of Biscay, off the coast of western France (Le Mao and Yésou, 1993). Although the species has long been a regular visitor to the western English Channel and – to a lesser extent – the North and Celtic Seas (Mayol-Serra et al., 2000), there is increasing evidence for a northwards shift in its core post-breeding range (Wynn and Yésou, 2007; Wynn et al., 2007). Some birds over-winter in the Atlantic (off south-west UK, in the Bay of Biscay and off the coast of Morocco), but most individuals return to the Mediterranean in the autumn (Mayol-Serra et al., 2000), where large gatherings of birds winter off the coast of eastern Spain.

OSPAR Regions where it occurs: II, III, IV, V

OSPAR Regions where under threat and/or in decline: II, III, IV, V

What is the latest status of the feature?

The status assessment describes the latest changes in distribution, abundance and range of the feature, as well as any changes in the threats and pressures impacting the feature. The status assessments are updated regularly and inform OSPAR’s consideration of the effectiveness of the measures and actions that have been adopted and implemented by Contracting Parties.

Why is this feature included on the OSPAR List?
What protective measures and actions has OSPAR committed to taking?
What actions have been implemented by OSPAR?	An implementation report will be published in late 2022