Seabird Conservation Strategies

Some seabird species are in drastic decline, and warrant the need for international cooperation on their conservation, protection and restoration. CBird has developed several strategies to respond to species of concern.

Despite being the most numerous and widespread of Arctic seabirds, Murres have experienced significant population declines in several circumpolar countries in the last century. Scientists and local communities raised concerns about this economically and ecologically important species at CAFF´s inagural meeting in 1992 and it was agreed that a common conservation strategy would be developed. The strategy was completed in 1996 and has been used as a framework for other international plans and more detailed national action plans.

Many populations of eiders — important sources of meat, eggs and down for many Arctic communities — have declined by 50% or more since 1950. Their drastic decline, combined with their circumpolar distribution, increased hunting pressures and cultural significance led CBird to develop a Circumpolar Eider Conservation Strategy and Action Plan.

The best information on ivory gull populations indicates that the species is undergoing reduced use of Svalbard colonies, flutuating population levels in Russia and have declined by 80-85% since the 1980s in Canada  in colonies in Svalbard. An Internaitonal Ivory Gull Conservation Strategy and Action Plan was developed in efforts gain more insight into how this under-studied bird responds to inclreasing threats from disappearance of sea ice habitat, natural resource exploration and increased contaminant loads.