6 June, 2025
A new scientific study sheds light on the feeding habits of two important seabird species found in Malta—Scopoli’s and Yelkouan Shearwaters. The study, recently published in the journal Marine Biology, was carried out in collaboration between several researchers including Martin Austad at BirdLife Malta, Lucie Michel, Juan F. Masello, Sven Griep and Petra Quillfeldt at Justus-Liebig University Giessen, Germany, Jacopo G. Cecere and Federico De Pascalis at ISPRA, Italy, Paco Bustamante at LIENSs, France and Giacomo Dell’Omo at Ornis Italica, Italy.
The researchers used new scientific techniques to analyse what these seabirds eat while breeding in the Central Mediterranean. They found that both species have a varied diet made up of fish, squid, and crustaceans. However, the study also revealed that a few specific pelagic fish species are particularly prevalent in their diet.
These same fish are also negatively affected by climate change and heavily targeted by commercial fisheries in the region. As a result, the findings raise concerns about the long-term health of the marine food web—not just for seabirds, but also for people who depend on the sea for food.
Shearwaters are top predators, meaning their feeding patterns can reveal important information about the state of marine ecosystems. When their main food sources decline, it signals bigger problems underwater.
The study highlights the need for better marine management. It calls for the protection of fish spawning areas and more selective fishing practices to reduce pressure on key species. This is essential not only for the future of our seabirds, but also to ensure that human fishing activities remain sustainable.
To learn more about this important study, you can read the full paper in Marine Biology here:
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00227-025-04670-z
