The Seabird Monitoring Programme (SMP) aims to ensure that
sample data on breeding numbers and performance of seabirds are
collected, both regionally and nationally, to enable their
conservation status to be assessed.
The most detailed monitoring in the SMP is contracted by JNCC
at geographically dispersed 'key sites': the Isle of May
(south-east Scotland), Fair Isle (Shetland), Canna (north-west
Scotland) and Skomer (west Wales). Long-term monitoring of numbers
and breeding success is also funded and carried out at other
colonies, including in-house triennial monitoring in Grampian,
Orkney, and St Kilda, Western Isles.
Measurements of breeding success, adult survival and diet are
collected to seek to suggest possible mechanisms responsible for
observed changes in breeding numbers. Such parameters are
revealing because they can tell us about interactions between
seabirds and their environment – such as the availability of fish
in the seas or pollution incidents – and so indicate how their
populations can be more effectively conserved.
The SMP is an ongoing annual monitoring programme, established
in 1986, of
26 species of seabird that regularly breed in
Britain and Ireland. Sampling methods for population and
productivity monitoring are described in
Walsh et
al. 1995: Seabird Monitoring Handbook for Britain and
Ireland. These are the methods that JNCC advises for most
seabird monitoring. Population monitoring comprises both counts of
whole colonies and counts of sample plots that are representative
of the colony as a whole. Methods for studying parameters
such as survival and diet have been developed at each site.
The lead partners of the SMP are JNCC, Royal Society for the
Protection of Birds and Shetland Oil Terminal Environmental
Advisory Group. Data for Irish seabird colonies are also
collated by JNCC and RSPB, in collaboration with National Parks and
Wildlife Service (Dept of Environment, Heritage and Local
Government, Republic of Ireland) and BirdWatch Ireland. The Centre
for Ecology and Hydrology, the Edward Grey Institute of Field
Ornithology (Oxford University), the Wildlife Trust of South and
West Wales, Highland Ringing Group and Fair Isle Bird Observatory
Trust are contracted by JNCC to monitor the 'key sites' referred to
above. Many other organisations and individuals contribute to
the SMP, some with financial help made available via JNCC.
The SMP is an ongoing programme of work that has contributed
to an understanding of the reasons for change in seabird
populations in Britain and Ireland. Results from the
programme have informed practical conservation and management
practices aimed at protecting key components of the marine
ecosystem. JNCC is undertaking a review of the SMP during
2003 and 2004, in order to determine if it still meets its stated
objectives and to explore ways in which it might be developed to
improve its scope and efficacy over the next decade.
The SMP Annual Report
, Seabird numbers and breeding
success in Britain and Ireland, has been produced annually
since 1990. It is a detailed synthesis of monitoring results
at major colonies throughout the British Isles. The latest edition
of this report is available to
download, previous editions may be ordered,
see
publications catalogue for details. A summary of
last year's result can also be
downloaded. Annual reports of the detailed
population monitoring at the 'key sites' of
Canna,
Isle of May,
Fair Isle
and Skomer are individually published; recent editions are
available on-line.