Project LIFE Artina – „Seabird Conservation Network in the Adriatic“ (LIFE17 NAT/HR/000594) is a five-year project, it started in September 2018. Leading partner is Association BIOM, and along with Association Sunce, partners are Public Institution Nature ˝Lastovsko otočje˝ and BirdLife Malta.

The LIFE Artina Project is designed to address the main problems of the protection of three marine species: the Audouin’s Gull, the Scopoli’s Shearwater and Yelkouan Shearwater. The name Artina is derived from the local dialect of Lastovo’s island for Yelkouan Shearwater which is also the endemic species of the Mediterranean. Since it only nests in the central part of the Adriatic its population is under great pressure. The project area is very important not only for the Yelkouan Shearwater, but for the Audouin’s Gull and Scopoli’s Shearwater as well. Their populations present here make up to 70% and 100% respectively of the total population present in Croatia. The population of Scopoli’s Shearwater and Yelkouan Shearwater is negatively impacted by alien terrestrial invasive species (ship rats) especially during breeding season, while the Audouin’s Gull is in intraspecific competition with the Yellow-legged gull.

PROJECT AREA

The project area includes two sites SPA Lastovsko otočje and SPA Pučinski otoci listed as a special protected area for birds (SPA) within the Natura 2000 ecological network. These areas were chosen for their importance for endangered seabird species, namely the Audouin’s Gull, Yelkouan Shearwater and Scopoli’s Shearwater. Also, they are on important Adriatic migratory route for birds and important areas for other bird species, such as Honey Buzzard (Pernis apivorus), crane (Grus grus) and other. In addition, SPA Lastovsko otočje also harbors a significant national breeding population of other bird species.

PROJECT OBJECTIVES

Overall objective of the LIFE Artina project is to create the preconditions for the designation of new marine conservation areas important for birds (SPA) in Croatia by creating a list of proposed new SPA sites and development of conservation measures for these areas.

Project specific objectives are:

• Identify marine SPAs at sea in southern part of Croatia for the Audouin’s Gull, the Scopoli’s Shearwater and Yelkouan Shearwater.
• Understand and assess the main threats affecting seabird populations on land and at sea in the project area and define actions to mitigate them.
• Eradicate alien terrestrial invasive species (ship rats) that negatively impact on Shearwater breeding colonies and control of Yellow-legged Gulls at breeding colonies of Audouin’s Gulls.

FINANCING

• Project LIFE Artina – “Seabird Conservation Network in the Adriatic” is co-financed by the LIFE Programme of the European Union under contract number LIFE17 NAT/HR/000594. The project started on September 1, 2018 and will end on August 31, 2023.
• Total project budget: 1,921,387 EUR
• EU LIFE Programme financial contribution: 1,152,832 EUR (60.00% of the total project budget)
• Project co-financing: Office for Cooperation with NGOs, Government of the Republic of Croatia

More about the project you can find on project’s website!

PROJECT PARTNERS

PROJECT IS CO-FINANCED BY