19 November, 2024
BirdLife Malta is proud to mark a major scientific milestone: the publication of a paper celebrating 20 years of the Seabird Tracking Database.
This global database has revolutionised how conservationists understand seabird movements, threats and the actions needed to protect them at sea.
Since its launch, the database has gathered tracking data from over 120 seabird species, covering 10 million location points worldwide.
The data has been vital in identifying important marine areas and influencing conservation decisions such as protected site designations.
In Malta, tracking studies supported by BirdLife Malta under the LIFE PanPuffinus! project have focused on species like the Scopoli’s Shearwater, Yelkouan Shearwater and European Storm-petrel.
Thanks to this research, several marine sites around the Maltese Islands have been recognised as key habitats and designated as marine protected areas.
The new paper highlights the impact of collaborative science and the value of long-term data in shaping global conservation policies.
It also addresses ongoing challenges, such as data gaps, climate change and the need to improve international protections for seabirds.
The Seabird Tracking Database shows how research from countries like Malta fits into a larger picture of global seabird conservation.
This achievement underscores the power of teamwork across borders, bringing together scientists, NGOs and governments for a shared goal.
Read the full paper and explore the findings here.
Together, we can continue safeguarding seabirds for future generations.
