---
title: "Malta identifies new Marine Important Bird Areas for Scopoli’s and Yelkouan Shearwaters and Mediterranean Storm Petrels"
---

# Malta identifies new Marine Important Bird Areas for Scopoli’s and Yelkouan Shearwaters and Mediterranean Storm Petrels

Malta **holds 10% of the World’s [Vulnerable](http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/species/factsheet/22698230) Yelkouan Shearwaters *Puffinus yelkouan* (a potential candidate species for ACAP listing), 3% of Scopoli’s Shearwaters ***Calonectris diomedea ***and half of the population of Mediterranean Storm ****Petrels***Hydrobates pelagicus melitensis. *At an international workshop [Protecting Seabirds in the Mediterranean: Advancing the Marine Protected Area Network](http://www.acap.aq/en/news/latest-news/2239-protecting-seabirds-in-the-mediterranean-advancing-the-marine-protected-area-network-workshop-to-be-held-in-malta)held in Gozo, Malta last week [BirdLife Malta](http://birdlifemalta.org/) announced that h**alf of Maltese waters are internationally important for seabirds**, following the  findings of the EU-funded LIFE+ Malta Seabird Project.

 ![](https://acap.aq/images/stories/acap/Birds/Shearwaters/Yelkouan/yelkouan flying s.jpg)

 Yelkouan Shearwater at sea

 ![](https://acap.aq/images/stories/acap/Birds/Shearwaters/Yelkouan/Yelkouan_IBA.jpg)

 IBA areas for Yelkouan Shearwaters around Malta

 ![](https://acap.aq/images/stories/acap/Birds/Shearwaters/Corys/Scopolis_Shearwater_IBA.jpg)

 IBA areas for Scopoli's Shearwaters around Malta

 These  newly identified Important Bird Areas (IBAs) in Maltese waters are now being considered for declaration as [Marine Special Protection Areas](http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/natura2000/marine/index_en.htm) by the Maltese Government, who were partners in the project ([click here](http://birdlifemalta.org/areas-of-maltese-waters-set-to-become-marine-special-protection-areas/)).

 **[Karmenu Vella](http://ec.europa.eu/commission/2014-2019/vella_en), [EU Commissioner for the Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries](http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/maritimeaffairs_fisheries/index_en.htm), addressed the workshop by** [video link](https://youtu.be/kn6y5NwjzQk) **to welcome ****the ****news ****as  an important ****contribution to ****Euro****pean nature protection.**

 “[Natura 2000 sites](http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/natura2000/index_en.htm) are the centrepiece of European nature legislation, helping in our efforts to halt biodiversity loss.  Less than 2% of the EU’s offshore waters are currently part of the network… for Natura 2000 to fulfil its potential we need many more offshore sites.  So I am delighted to see this close collaboration between BirdLife Malta and the [Maltese Ministry of Environment](http://environment.gov.mt/en/Pages/mdsec%20main.aspx).  I look forward to receiving the official notification from Malta that the corresponding Special Protection Areas have been designated”.

 [Click here](http://issuu.com/birdseyeview/docs/laymans_report_2015) to view an illustrated booklet on the LIFE+ Malta Seabird Project by Birdlife Malta*.*

 *John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 30 November 2015*