The Mediterranean and Black Seas are among the highest exposure risk areas for seabirds to plastic pollution in the world, according to a study recently published in the scientific journal Nature Communications.

The Maltese Islands are home to three seabird species that have been extensively studied – the Scopoli’s Shearwater (Ċiefa), the Yelkouan Shearwater (Garnija), and the European Storm-petrel (Kanġu ta’ Filfla).

The findings emphasise the pressing need for global action to mitigate the dangers plastic pollution poses to these remarkable creatures.

Plastic pollution has become an increasingly urgent environmental issue, affecting various marine ecosystems worldwide.

Among the most vulnerable creatures impacted by this alarming problem are seabirds. A recent study published in the scientific journal Nature Communications reveals that the Mediterranean and Black Seas are at the forefront of seabird exposure to plastic pollution.

Seabirds are particularly susceptible to plastic pollution due to their feeding habits and foraging behaviours. They often mistake plastic debris for food and end up ingesting it, or they become entangled in plastic waste while searching for sustenance.

The Scopoli’s Shearwater, Yelkouan Shearwater, and European Storm-petrel are known to cover vast distances during feeding and annual migrations. Tragically, this also means they retain swallowed plastic in their digestive systems for extended periods, leading to starvation and physical harm to their organs.

One alarming example of the devastating effects of plastic pollution on seabirds was reported just last week when a Yelkouan Shearwater was found dead at sea in Maltese waters.

The examination by government veterinarians revealed that the bird’s stomach contained synthetic fabric, a clear indication of plastic ingestion, which likely contributed to its untimely demise.

The study’s critical data were collected through BirdLife Malta’s successive seabird studies, shedding light on the alarming plastic exposure risk faced by seabird populations in the Mediterranean and Black Seas.

BirdLife Malta played a significant role in the research by contributing large datasets from Maltese seabirds that were tracked during various conservation projects, including the EU LIFE Yelkouan Shearwater Project, the LIFE+ Malta Seabird Project, and LIFE Arċipelagu Garnija.

Lead researcher Bethany Clark and her team explored the correlation between petrel populations and ocean plastic debris by analysing the spatial and temporal overlap of plastic debris abundances with data from 77 petrel species worldwide.

The findings revealed the severity of plastic exposure risks across different populations, seasons, and jurisdictions, even in high seas areas beyond the Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs), which are beyond the national jurisdiction of coastal nations. The study highlighted that species already facing threats, such as the Balearic Shearwater, exhibited higher exposure risks.

The study’s implications are significant, especially for the Yelkouan Shearwaters breeding on Malta, which were found to have one of the highest plastic exposures. It is now more crucial than ever to implement effective mitigation and conservation actions to protect these vulnerable seabird species from the detrimental effects of plastic pollution.

Organisations like BirdLife Malta are at the forefront of such efforts, focusing on projects like LIFE PanPuffinus! that aim to safeguard threatened species like the Balearic Shearwater.