Seabirds at Sea
Monitoring seabirds at sea
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.
Data from SAST’s boat and aerial surveys
carried out from 1979-2002 is contained within the European
Seabirds at Sea (ESAS) database, hosted by JNCC. This database is
currently being analysed as part of work to identify offshore Special
Protection Areas (SPAs).
Recent new work
The JNCC Seabirds at Sea Team has been involved in various
collaborative projects, often by providing trained survey staff.
These include:
- SCANS II (2005): A project to
estimate Small Cetacean abundance in European Atlantic and North
Sea waters, allowing assessment and management of bycatch.
-
CMarHab ((2008):
A NERC funded project to investigate oceanographic characteristics
and predator-prey behaviours to define Critical Marrine
Habitats (see article in Nature News 19,
p8, PDF, 1.7 mb)