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title: "European Union set to have a Seabird Action Plan by year-end"
---

# European Union set to have a Seabird Action Plan by year-end

It seems the long-awaited Seabird Action Plan for the European Union is to be in place soon.

 Lowri Evans, Director-General of the European Commission's Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries ([DG Mare](http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/maritimeaffairs_fisheries/index_en.htm)) announced at an [exhibition](http://www.birdlife.org/community/2011/10/appeal-to-eu-policy-makers-to-stop-needless-seabird-bycatch/) of albatross photographs arranged by [BirdLife Europe](http://www.birdlife.org/regional/europe/index.html ) last week and held at the European Parliament that that the Commission is planning to adopt a Seabird Action Plan to reduce the incidental bycatch of seabirds by the end of the year.  The European Union Action Plan (NPOA-Seabirds) will contain monitoring and mitigation measures to reduce seabird bycatch in both European and international waters.

 At the exhibition the Director-General noted the need for a wider approach to fisheries management in terms of the EU's Common Fisheries Policy ([CFP](http://ec.europa.eu/fisheries/cfp/index_en.htm)), encompassing all elements of the ecosystem including seabirds.  The CFP is currently in the process of being reformed ([click here](http://ec.europa.eu/fisheries/reform/index_en.htm)).  She called upon Members of the European Parliament, Member States, NGOs, the fishing industry and civil society to help bring about this change.

 It is considered that the adoption of a NPOA-Seabirds for the EU will help conserve such seabird species as the [Critically Endangered](http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/speciesfactsheet.php?id=30026) Balearic Shearwater *Puffinus mauretanicus*, endemic to the Spanish Mediterranean, and which is expected to become an ACAP-listed species next year ([click here](https://acap.aq/latest-news/shearwaters-a-new-working-group-and-a-meeting-in-peru-next-year-the-acap-advisory-committee-closes-a-successful-meeting-in-guayaquil-ecuador)).

 ![](https://acap.aq/images/stories/acap/Birds/Shearwaters/Balearic/balearic_shearwater_daniel_oro.jpg)  
Balearic Shearwater  
Photograph by Daniel Oro

 [Click here](https://acap.aq/latest-news/progress-towards-a-national-plan-of-action-seabirds-by-the-european-commission) for an earlier item in *ACAP Latest News* on progress towards an EU NPOA-Seabirds.

 *John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 25 October 2011*