The JNCC Seabirds At-Sea Team (SAST) has carried out a programme
of survey and research on seabirds and cetaceans in the marine
environment in the north-east Atlantic since 1979, and in the
south-west Atlantic between 1998 and 2002.
In 1979, little was known about the offshore distribution and
ecology of seabirds, yet they faced potential threats, such as from
the North Sea's rapidly expanding offshore oil industry.
Much
of the SAST's work has been driven and funded by the needs of the
offshore oil and gas industry in the UK and overseas, with
publications providing information on the locations of seabird
concentrations vulnerable to oil pollution (e.g. Webb
et al. 1995). Knowledge of distribution patterns of
seabirds at sea is now much improved, and continues to underpin
advice given by JNCC staff on developments
in the hydrocarbon, aggregate and fishing industries, and latterly,
renewable energy industry such as offshore wind farms.In recent years, implementation of EU directives, in
particular the
EU Birds Directive (1979) have provided renewed focus for
research and data collection, generating results that underpin
effective seabird conservation advice in the marine environment.
Since 2000, SAST's main obligations have been to perform novel
analyses to existing and new data sources to provide guidance for
the identification of marine sites and boundaries for
marine Special Protection
Areas (SPAs).
Access to seabirds at-sea data
Since 1979, SAST has conducted numerous surveys of seabird and
cetaceans at sea from ships and aircraft using standard methods.
These data are stored in a database, which to date contains
data from over 750 cruises, representing transects of approximately
525,000 km in length (over 13 times around the world at the
equator) with a total count of roughly 3.5 million seabirds and
cetaceans.
In 1991, SAST formed a partnership with researchers in
north-west Europe engaged in similar research to share data and
co-operate in joint research projects. Much work has been
done amongst these research groups to standardise seabird and
cetacean data collection methods across Europe. This resulted in a
shared database managed by the JNCC on behalf of the European
Seabirds at Sea Database Co-ordinating Group (ESAS) (
Reid
& Camphuysen 1998). Many publications have resulted from
the use of these data and ESAS partners have engaged in shared
projects, e.g. the the Joint Cetacean Database,
Atlas of cetacean distribution in north-west
European waters (Reid
et al. 2003) and
Atlas of seabird
distribution in north-west European waters (Stone
et
al. 1995).
JNCC is currently working with the
OBIS Seamap project (Ocean
Biogeographic
Information System - Spatial Ecological
Analysis of Megavertebrate Populations) to present
seabirds at-sea data via their online portal.
If you would like to use the
seabirds at-sea data held by JNCC for a particular research
project, please contact the Information Manager,
.
Recent new work
Since 2000, the JNCC Seabirds at Sea team has used aircraft to
collect data on the location of inshore waterbird aggregations
around the north of Britain. These surveys were conducted
mainly to identify the most suitable territories for selection as
Special Protection Areas. A more detailed description of
these surveys can be found at the JNCC
Seaduck Survey
pages.
In 2005, JNCC was involved
in the SCANS II project
(Small Cetaceans in the European Atlantic and North Sea), which
aimed to estimate small cetacean abundance in European Atlantic
waters, allowing assesment and management of bycatch through the
development of improved methods for monitoring, and a robust
management framework.
Most recently, in 2008, JNCC
has been involved in the
CMarHab (Critical Marine Habitats) project, a NERC funded
project to investigate oceanographic characteristics and
predator-prey behaviours to define critical marine habitats.
The Seabirds at Sea team is
co-ordinating efforts with a programme of new survey commissioned
as part of the Department of Business Energy and Regulatory Reform
(BERR)’s Offshore Energy
Strategic Environmental Assessment. Data from these surveys
will be incorporated into the JNCC seabirds at sea database, and
will help to improve knowledge of recent seabird and cetacean
distribution patterns where recent information may be sparse.
At-Sea Survey Methods
JNCC is concerned to ensure that marine
surveys of seabirds carried out in UK waters are fit for purpose
and compatible with data collected as part of the JNCC and the
European Seabirds at Sea databases.
At present, two approaches to sea survey for
seabirds and cetaceans are normally considered: ship-based surveys
and aerial surveys. Both approaches offer advantages and
disadvantages; when considering a census of seabirds, most
investigators consider using both survey platforms, depending on
the objectives of the study. Survey techniques have evolved
since seabird distribution studies were first carried out.
Regardless of whether aircraft or ships are used for a new study of
seabird distribution at sea, organisers should refer to a review by
Camphuysen et
al. 2004 of methods and standards for carried out for the
COWRIE project
(Collaborative Offshore Wind Research Into The
Environment).
Ship-based survey methods
Standardised survey methods for census of
seabirds from ships have been described in Tasker et al.
(1984), and updated in Webb and Durinck (1992). The COWRIE
project sought to review and agree methods for census of seabirds
and cetaceans for Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) and other
sensitivity studies. Such standardisation was needed in the
early phases of new EIA work required in marine waters, and there
was a general skill shortage at that time. During the COWRIE
project, it was identified that there was a need for training for
observers in the agreed methods. To this end, the JNCC has
been organising courses in boat-based survey methods.
There is no requirement by the Department for
Business, Energy and Regulatory Reform; Crown Estates; JNCC or the
country nature conservation agencies for marine seabird and
cetacean surveyors to have attended this course for EIAs.
However, it is highly recommended that anyone carrying out marine
bird surveys should be trained in these methods and, increasingly,
consultancies want fully trained surveyors.
Further information:
A Webb 2007. Standardised methods for
seabird survey at sea from ships. Powerpoint
presentation.
Presented by Andy Webb at the Pacific Seabird Group
annual meeting, Asilomar, California, February 2007.
Course in marine bird
surveys from boat
Boat survey
resources
Aerial survey methods
Camphuysen et al. 2004 also describe
the current preferred methods for using aircraft to census
seabirds. The skills and training required for observers to
carry out accurate seabird census from the air are considerable;
the JNCC recommends that only fully trained and experienced
observers are used for these surveys. More information on
JNCC's aerial survey work can be found under the Seaduck
Survey pages.
Cetacean survey
The above methods are suitable for census of
cetaceans as well as seabirds, but may not produce such accurate
estimates for cetaceans as dedicated surveys. Contact the
Seabirds at Sea Team for advice on dedicated survey design for
census of cetaceans.
Some offshore activities, such as seismic
surveys, require the presence of Marine Mammal Observers (MMOs) to
help to minimise disturbance of cetaceans. Detailed advice on
procedures for use of MMOs can be found at JNCC's Seismic
Surveys pages.
Course in
marine bird surveys from boats
The course aims to give surveyors a good
grounding in the theory and practice of survey for seabirds and
cetaceans from boats, with particular emphasis on the methods
agreed during the COWRIE project. It is carried out mainly on
a chartered boat but includes some classroom time to cover theory
of methods (including navigation) and information about onward
analysis. Students are assessed and trained in five main
areas considered by the European Seabirds at Sea Co-ordinating
Group in its training standards: visual acuity; understanding of
the recording methods; seabird identification; recording stamina
and in navigation.
Course content includes:
General introduction (European Seabirds at
Sea, COWRIE etc)
Safety on boats
Overview and standards for observers
ESAS / COWRIE survey methods
Estimating distance and making a
rangefinder
Theory of transect methods and onward
analytical methods
Using recording forms
Identifying cetaceans and other species
Navigation
Additional topics that may be covered
include:
Equipment to take and preparation
Troubleshooting
Assessing the efficiency of observations
Analysing data
Specific survey requirements (flying height,
behaviours)
Other tips and tricks of the trade
Using your GPS
Chart-work
For more information, or if you are interested
in attending a course, please contact
or
.
Boat survey resources
Angleboard
Rangefinder formulae
ESAS coding manual
Clinometer for aerial survey
Further reading
Camphuysen, K. J., Fox, A. D.,
Leopold, M. F. and Petersen, I. K. 2004.
Towards standardised
seabirds at sea census techniques in connection with environmental
impact assessments for offshore wind farms in the
U.K.: a comparison of ship and aerial sampling methods
for marine birds, and their applicability to offshore wind farm
assessments. NIOZ report to COWRIE (BAM – 02-2002),
Texel, 37pp.
Heineman, D. 1981. A range
finder for pelagic bird censusing. Journal of Wildlife
Management, 45, pp. 489-493.
Komdeur, J., Bertelsen, J. and
Cracknell, G. 1992. Manual for aeroplane and ship
surveys of waterfowl and seabirds. IWRB, Slimbridge.
Tasker, M. L., Jones, P. H., Dixon, T.
J. and Blake, B. F. 1984 Counting seabirds at sea from
ships: a review of methods employed and a suggestion for a
standardized approach. Auk, 101, 567-577.
Webb, A. and
Durinck, J. 1992. Counting birds from ship. In J. Komdeur;
J. Berelsen & G. Cracknell Manual for aeroplane and ship
surveys of waterfowl and seabirds. International Wildfowl Research
Bureau, Slimbridge, pp. 24-37.
Camphuysen, C. J.
and Garthe, S. 2004. Recording foraging seabirds at
sea: standardised recording and coding of foraging behaviour and
multi-species associations. Atlantic Seabirds 6: 1 – 32.