Marine Protected Areas and Black Guillemot (Cepphus Grylle)

Black Guillemot and Marine Protected Areas

Marine Protected Areas and black guillemot (Cepphus grylle)

Position paper for 4th MPA Workshop, Heriot Watt 14-15 March 2012

Purpose of document

1.  Black guillemot is the only bird species included on the MPA search feature list for Scottish territorial waters. Currently the only protected area measure for black guillemot is the existence of a small number of Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

2.  The purpose of this document is to summarise the approach being used to select MPA search locations for black guillemot, and to establish the degree to which existing protected areas such as Special Protection Areas (SPAs) and Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) can provide the coverage necessary to address the site protection requirements for this species. The paper also considers the overlap with MPA search locations identified for other features.

3.  MPA search locations for black guillemot are assessed against the OSPAR principles, and where appropriate gaps identified. In addition, the degree to which protection is provided by the existing protected area network is assessed, and the nature and extent of additional measures that may be needed to address such gaps are identified.

4.  A summary of MPA search locations is provided in the report.

Summary

5.  Black guillemot is considered here as a MPA search feature. The rationale for selecting sites is developed, and the focus is directed towards selecting sites based on the existing protected area network, especially SPAs with marine extensions, but also where appropriate, SPAs without marine extensions and SSSIs.

6.  MPAs will contribute to black guillemot conservation through identification of sites with large aggregations (at a GB scale), given that such sites are likely to be used all-year round by some or all individuals, for breeding feeding and maintenance behaviours.

7.  Data used is based on the Seabird 2000 dataset, with reference made to figures within the earlier Seabird Colony Register.

8.  A minimum of four search locations are suggested, with a maximum of six, involving duplication of search locations in the North and West MPA regions given the importance of these regions and to maximise connectivity. In the North MPA region Fetlar SPA in Shetland and a possible site in Orkney (Papa Westray, or Rousay SPA or Hoy SPA). In the West MPA region, Monach Isles SPA and Rum/Canna SPAs. In the East MPA region, East Caithness Cliffs SPA and in South-west MPA region, Sanda SSSI.

9.  In OSPAR Regions, there are three search locations in OSPAR Region III, The Celtic Sea (Monach Isles, Rum & Canna and Sanda & Sheep Islands). OSPAR Region II, the Greater North Sea Region, there are also three search locations: Fetlar, Papa Westray & East Caithness Cliffs.

10.  Three of these locations overlap with MPA search locations for other MPA search features (Fetlar, Rum/Canna and Sanda).

11.  The seaward boundary will lie at most 2km from shore as this distance would appear to contain the majority of foraging activity based on limited survey and research findings. The 2km distance coincides with most but not all SPA marine extensions.

12.  Management should maintain populations and where necessary, enhance resilience to change.

Map showing MPA search locations identified for black guillemot

Background

13.  Black guillemot is a member of the auk family, in the genus Cepphus and is closely related to pigeon guillemots and spectacled guillemots. It is widespread globally with an estimated population of 400-800,000 mature individuals1.

Image downloaded from http://www.planetofbirds.com/charadriiformes-alcidae-black-guillemot-cepphus-grylle

14.  In the UK and Ireland it is largely restricted to Scotland with smaller numbers elsewhere, especially including the island of Ireland. The latest population estimate and breeding range is considered to be about 43,000 mature individuals with over 37,000 in Scotland[1].

15.  It is almost entirely confined to inshore waters and unlike other members of the auk family, is largely sedentary, although juvenile black guillemot are known to disperse after fledging with median distance moved being about 10km in Britain and Ireland (reference needed). Birds may aggregate into larger flocks after the breeding season (during which birds are flightless), and may then disperse to sheltered coastal locations, not necessarily close to their breeding location. There is some evidence that birds from islands and locations lacking shelter from winter storms move further into areas where such shelter can be found (BirdLife International (2012)).

16.  Feeding is undertaken in sheltered waters, generally less than 50m deep and birds will take a wide variety of prey (mostly from the benthos), including small fish such as sandeels (Ammodytes spp.) and butterfish (Pholis spp.) and invertebrates. Some birds may travel long distances along the coast (in excess of 13km) but rarely venture far from shore with maximum distance from the shore being about 5km (BirdLife International (2012)).

17.  There is some information which suggests close association with sub-littoral kelp beds, which may highlight the importance of this habitat for this species (BirdLife International (2012))

18.  Nesting takes place in rock cavities and crevices along cliffed coastlines. Birds attend colonies in early spring and may spend some time on the water, close to breeding sites as well as on land, near prospective nest sites. Unusually (for auks), black guillemots lay two eggs. This ability does allow fairly rapid response to population change (such as oil spills from the Esso Bernicia and Braer).

19.  There is some evidence of population declines in parts of Scotland (especially the west and south west) with increases elsewhere (especially in Shetland). However, issues such as census methods and timing can have a considerable influence on pre-breeding counts (the standard census method), and some of the apparent trends may be survey artefacts. However, issues such as predation by introduced mammals (mink and brown rats), are real concerns and such causes of change probably highlight very real threats to the black guillemot population (Mitchell, 2004)

Distribution in Scottish, GB and Irish waters

20.  The distribution of black guillemot in Britain and Ireland is given below[2]. The distribution in Scotland is largely northern and western with the majority of breeding individuals in the Northern isles

21.  The most recent data source giving contemporaneous data is that from the Seabird 2000 dataset. The great majority of the British & Irish coastline was surveyed and results published (Mitchell et al. 2004)2.

22.  The GB, Irish and Isle of Man population is given as 42,683 individuals. Of this total 37,505 (~88%) individuals were recorded in Scotland; 7 in England; 602 in the Isle of Man and 4,541(~11%) in All-Ireland (Northern Ireland held 1,174 individuals).

23.  The GB population of 37,540 individuals is about 5%-15% of the estimated world population.

24.  In Scotland, the break down by OSPAR[3] & MPA region is given in the table below:

25.  No black guillemots were recorded in the Far-west MPA region (which includes Rockall).

26.  The majority of birds are found in the north (~60%) and west (~35%). The population in the East MPA region is dominated by the population along the Caithness coastline.

27.  There has been very little change overall in GB since the Seabird Colony Register (published in 1985), as numbers in Scotland have increased by 1%. However, this masks apparent declines in the south and west set against substantial increases in Shetland. Issues surrounding counts are discussed later, so considerable caution has to be exercised with the data. However it is possible that there are real, underlying drivers of change (such as non-native species) in different parts of Scotland and this is also considered further, later in this document.

Role of Marine Protected Areas for black guillemot

28.  Marine Scotland’s Marine Nature Conservation Strategy adopts a three-pillar approach to conservation in the marine environment. These are: species protection; site protection and wider seas measures.

29.  Black guillemots are protected under the Wildlife & Countryside Act (1981) against taking, injuring or killing, though as they are not species listed on Schedule 1 they are not protected from disturbance during the breeding season. Black guillemot is not deliberately persecuted in Scottish waters, though there may be an incidental take through entanglement in nets and some individuals have been found in creels (Ewins 1988, Okill 2002).

30.  Within territorial waters, the role of MPAs will be to give protection to significant aggregations of black guillemot, which cannot be achieved through existing protected area mechanisms. While SSSIs can (and have been) identified for black guillemot (see later), the geographical limits to SSSI selection stop at mean low water spring tides, and essential areas for foraging cannot be protected through the existing SSSI mechanism.

31.  Most seabirds breeding in Scotland are given protection under the EU Birds Directive as they are either Annex 1 species or they are considered to be migratory. Black guillemots in the UK and Ireland are not considered to be migratory and have therefore not been including as a species for which Special Protection Areas (SPAs) have been identified and classified.

32.  It is for this reason that it is considered appropriate to identify Marine Protected Areas for black guillemot.

Areas appropriate to safeguard mobile species in the MPA process.

33.  In relation to mobile species, the MPA Selection Guidelines consider that Nature Conservation MPAs are appropriate for contributing to the protection of the following:

a.  significant aggregations of communities of important marine species in Scottish waters;

b.  essential areas for key life cycle stages of important mobile species that persist in time, including habitats known to be important for reproduction and nursery stages; and,

c.  areas contributing to the maintenance of ecosystem functioning in Scottish waters.

34.  This approach is intrinsically linked to the concept of ‘critical habitats’, areas upon which species are strongly dependent, or areas where species show high fidelity (essential for day-to-day well-being and survival and to maintain healthy populations).

35.  For black guillemot these three broader categories can be more clearly articulated according to a number of different types of areas as follows (reflecting our understanding of the ecology of the species):

·  Significant aggregations of communities of important marine species in Scottish waters

a.  Places used regularly for feeding, breeding and socialising.

b.  Locations where associated and supporting activities (e.g. courtship, resting, playing, communication) take place.

c.  Locations with regular seasonal concentrations.

36.  Within territorial waters, the perceived MPA role in relation to black guillemot is to provide protection to significant aggregations and to essential areas for key life cycle stages. The MPA designation will ensure specific conservation objectives are met and that an assessment is carried out for activities likely to impact upon black guillemots. This will offer heightened and appropriate protection in those areas where black guillemots are potentially most sensitive.

Network considerations for black guillemots

37.  MPA search locations should cover the range of geographical variation in Great Britain’s sea areas (in practice this means that sites will lie within Scotland given the very small English & Welsh black guillemot population). Black guillemot are largely sedentary and although juvenile dispersal is probably responsible for most emigration, which can be over very long distances (Ewins 1988), most black guillemot (as with many other seabirds) exhibit a degree of natal fidelity when selecting breeding locations. Frederiksen & Petersen (2000) showed that most breeding black guillemot in Iceland did not disperse and settle to breed more than about 10km from their natal colony. Selection of search locations across the range will ensure good representation across the geographical extent of this species’ range in Scotland. This will require replication of sites across the breeding range, including possibly multiple sites within each of the MPA (and OSPAR) regions (apart from the far west, where black guillemot do not occur in any significant numbers as JNCC data suggests that black guillemot is virtually absent from the Far West area).

38.  MPA search locations should be distributed so as to maximise connectivity in a species that is relatively sedentary. This may mean that when considering replication of sites, selecting sites that enhance connectivity should be preferred. Given that relatively few black guillemot juveniles move further than about 50km from their natal colony (Okill 2002), having a spread of protected areas managed appropriately across the geographical range of the species is likely to be essential. This does not imply that sites need to be spaced very 50km or so, but where there may be several possible locations within an OSPAR Region, replication and representation of sites that are spread across the latitudinal gradient should be preferred as opposed to any clustering that might arise from other consideration (such as size and/or viability). Connectivity may be especially important in the south west where Scottish populations will link with the Irish population.

39.  Search locations should be as large (with respect to numbers not area covered) as possible because large sites with high numbers are likely to show less inter-count and inter-annual variability arising from statistical count error; and because larger areas will engender greater resilience as well as encompassing the full range of habitat selection.

40.  To ensure viability, search locations should contain more than 1% of the GB population (see discussion in following section for more detail).

Process for identifying MPA search locations for black guillemot

41.  The development of the network for black guillemot has focussed on the contribution of existing protected areas as initial assessment work indicated this would give sufficient representation and replication of sites.

42.  The order in which existing protected areas were considered includes:

·  The contribution of existing Sites of Special Scientific Interest notified for black guillemot.