LIFE Program N° LIFE03 NAT/F/000102

CONSERVATION DES POPULATIONS D’OISEAUX MARINS DES ÎLES DE MARSEILLE

Layman’s Report MMaarrcchh 22000033 -- DDeecceemmbbeerr 22000077

March 2008

CEEP Marseille team

Conservatoire-Etudes des Ecosystèmes de Provence

Ce document est le résultat de 5 années de travail réalisé dans le cadre du programme LIFE Nature sur la « Conservation des populations d’oiseaux marins des îles de Marseille ».

Coordonné par Charlotte GOBIN, Jennifer DABAT et Emilie DRUNAT, ce rapport a été réalisé par l’ensemble de l’équipe du CEEP-Marseille.

Sa rédaction a été coordonnée par Emilie Drunat.

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Contents

1. Summary of the programme and its aims 1

2. Description of the methods and results 2

3. Impact on the targeted species 4

4. Discussion 6

5. Result transfer 7

This document is the result of 5 years of work carried out in the bounds of the LIFE Nature programme “Conservation of seabird populations on the Islands of Marseille”.

This management manual was realized by the Marseilles team of the CEEP (Conservatoire - Études des Écosystèmes de Provence) and coordinated by Charlotte GOBIN, Jennifer DABAT and Emilie DRUNAT. Its writing was coordinated by Emilie DRUNAT.

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1. Summary of the programme and its aims

The LIFE Nature programme “Conservation of seabird populations on the Islands of Marseilles” took place from March 1st, 2003 until 31st December, 2007 on the two Archipelagos of Frioul and Riou, off Marseilles (Bouches-du-Rhône, France). It was coordinated by the CEEP (Conservatoire - Études des Écosystèmes de Provence), in partnership with the Centre d’Etudes Biologiques of Chizé (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique) and the association Alpes de Lumière.

West of Pomègues Island (Frioul Archipelago) Monastério Calanque (Riou Island)

It concerned the conservation of 3 seabird species of community interest: Cory’s Shearwater Calonectris diomedea diomedea, Mediterranean Storm Petrel Hydrobates pelagicus melitensis and Mediterranean Shag Phalacrocorax aristotelis desmarestii. The Mediterranean Shearwater Puffinus yelkouan also benefited from the conservation measures.

The main aim of this project was to ensure the conservation of the seabird colonies of community interest on the Islands of Marseilles, to restore favourable conditions for the settlement of colonies on formerly occupied sites and to encourage the increase of the nesting populations.

The 3 species targeted by the programme were Cory’s Shearwater , Mediterranean Storm Petrel and Mediterranean Shag . The Mediterranean Shearwater , a fourth endemic species of Mediterranean seabird, which nests on the Islands of Marseilles, also benefited from the management actions that were set up by the programme.

Another objective of the programme was to contribute to the organization of a network of Mediterranean island managers concerned by the management of seabird colonies.

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2. Description of the methods and results

At the beginning of the programme preparatory actions were put in place in order to organize the development of the programme, especially through the purchase of equipment. An analysis of the disturbing factors found on the Shearwater colonies of Frioul Archipelago enabled to propose to the City of Marseilles the reinforcement of the regulation of the Parc Maritime des îles du Frioul in order to adapt it to seabird conservation. This preparatory phase was also necessary in order to census the breeding sites of the Storm Petrel on the 2 archipelagos.

After this a series of « single » management actions begun. A certain number of these actions consisted in the control of predators (Black Rat Rattus rattus) or species which interacted with seabirds (Rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus). The eradication of the Black Rat on Plane Island was accomplished in 2005. On the larger islands (Riou, Pomègues and Ratonneau) trapping was carried out every year in order to limit the density of Black Rats. Rabbits, which destroy the natural breeding sites of the Shearwaterswere also trapped in the Riou Archipelago in order to lower their density.

Limitation of Rats and Rabbits on the seabird colonies has contributed to a noticeable improvement of the breeding success of Cory’sShearwater on the 2 archipelagos since 2003.

Rat trapping Rabbit capture on Riou Island Other “single” management actions were the installation of artificial nests for Shearwaters (in Riou and Frioul archipelagos) and for the Storm Petrel (on 4 sites in Riou archipelago), coupled with a vocal attraction (playback) device.

The immediate and longlasting occupation of the artificial nests by the Shearwaters has shown the efficiency of the action. For the Storm Petrel the number of artifical nests originally foreseen was reduced to an experimental appliance which enabled the settlement of one pair from the first year.

Cory’s Shearwater and its chick in an artificial nest A new playback device was developped during this programme.In spite of the technical problems encountered this system proved its effeciency with the Storm Petrel. As for the shearwaters, its attractivity was not demonstrated. On Frioul Archipelago the arrangement and restoration of paths has allowed to withdraw the Cory’ Shearwater colony of the Pomègues Fort from human disturbance and has thus contributed to the quietness of this breeding site.

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Also a study was carried out on the diet of the Shag in order to improve our knowledge of this species which recently settled on Riou Island. Articles published in the local press contributed to make the general public aware of the fragility of this species Every year management actions were carried out.They concerned the scientifc monitoring of the breeding of Cory’s Shearwater and Shag, as well as the ringing of Shearwaters.This monitoring of the evolution of breeding populations and breeding success is absolutely necessary in order to measure the effeciency of the management actions. A particular monitoring of the artificial nests and of their occupation was carried out regularly in order to measure the effeciency of the devices. A prototype of an automatic videocontrol was experimented to monitor Cory’s Shearwater using night-vision cameras placed in situ. This action enabled to percieve the main causes of disturbance of this species (due to Rats and Rabbits, and stray Cats and Dogs in the colonies) and to film the behaviour of the birds. Also, during each period of important human affluence on the islands, beginning in spring, the control of the breeding sites was reinforced in order to insure the quietness of the seabird colonies. Globally the information effort repeated every year has largely contributed to the enforcement of the regulation on the Islands of Marseilles. The conservation of seabirds also passes through the recognition of their patrimonial value by the public and the local actors. In this programme the communication actions all allowed through the seabirds to emphasize the natural heritage of the Islands of Marseilles and thus to accompany the installation of the management structures recently put in place (Natural Reserve and Maritime Park). Several communication tools were developped: an internet website including a discussion platform, an illustrated brochure, a presentation leaflet, 5 newsletters, a poster, an exhibit with 14 panels and 30 slide presentations. Thes tools have been used by the staff during various encounters, workshops, meetings or events in order to share the knowledge on the particular heritage of the Islands of Marseilles.

Poster on Mediterranean seabirds Information letter Aucelun dè mar Also, in order to focus the attention on the actions carried out and on the main results of the programme a workshop was organized in Marseilles in November 2007. It gathered ca. 50 landscape managers, scientists and representatives of national and local adminstrations concerned by the conservation of seabirds. Through this workshop, but also through the management manual and the layman’s report, the results of the LIFE programme were widely broadcasted among the network of persons working on seabird and insular ecosystem conservation.

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3. Impact on the targeted species

Globally, the LIFE Nature programme “Conservation of seabird populations on the Islands of Marseilles” has reached its conservation aims.

The actions carried out in favour of the Storm Petrel have shown that the population which breeds on the Islands of Marseilles (and which was estimated in the 1980s ca. 100 pairs localized on Plane Island) is today reduced to a few tens of pairs confined to coastal cliffs. Prospections have confirmed that the species is still present and still breeds on the Islands of Marseilles (one egg was laid in an artificial nest and the corpse of a juvenile was found in front of the entrance of a shearwater‘s burrow), but breeding sites are very difficult to find.

The threat represented by the presence of Black Rats on favourable breeding sites has been suppressed. However the major limiting factor remains the overabundance of Yellow-legged Gulls, the regulation of which is totally dependent on the existence of landfills. Conservation efforts initiated in this programme will be continued and the results already obtained will serve as a base to develop new actions in favour of this species whose conservation has become one of the priorities in the management of the Islands of Marseilles.

Cory’s Shearwater Mediterranean Shag

Mediterranean Storm Petrel Mediterranean Shearwater The small Shag colony on Riou Island has also profited from the reinforced wardening actions around Riou during the LIFE programme. Indeed, in 2003, the colony was composed of 4 breeding pairs and the success was 2 chicks/pair. In 2007 the colony had increased to 5 pairs with a breeding success of 2.2 chicks/pair (11 chicks produced). Moreover, beginning 2008, 9 pairs have started breeding on the coastal cliffs of Riou Island.

The situation is the same for the Shag population which summers in the cliffs of the Islands of Marseilles and which has increased from 56 to 83 individuals during the programme. These data show that the conditions are favourable for this species which has recently established itself on the Islands

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of Marseilles. Conservation actions initiated in the LIFE programme will also be continued in order to favour the development of this population.

Conservation actions put in place through the LIFE programme also profited the Cory’s Shearwater populations of the two archipelagos.The number of burrows censused and mapped indeed rose from 228 in 2003 to 375 in 2007. This enlargement is due for one part to a better knowledge of the population by a reinforcement of the monitoring in situ and for another part to a real increase of the number of breeding pairs, facilitated by management actions.

The breeding success has more than doubled, increasing from 0.37 chicks/pair in 2003 to 0.79 chicks/pair in 2007. This testifies an imporvement of the quality of the breeding sites on the Islands of Marseilles, related to the actions carried out. Conservation efforts will be continued in order to maintain these good conditions and the development of the colonies.

Aim Population increase Population conservation

Restoration of formerly occupied

sites

Indicators Évolution of

population size 2003-2007

Évolution of breeding success

2003-2007

New occupied sites 2003-2007

Mediterranean Storm Petrel unknown unknown �

Mediterranean Shag � � � Cory’s Shearwater � � �

Mediterranean Shearwater � � �

� : Increase tendency

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4. Discussion

The three aims of the programme concerning the targeted species have been reached.

The LIFE programme has allowed to accompany and reinforce during 5 years the protection and management of the Islands of Marseilles. All actions developped for the conservation of seabird populations will continued on a long term through the management plans of the Riou Archipelago Natural Reserve (created in September 2003) and of the Frioul Islands Maritime Park (established in 2002). Also the network between managers of insular sites in the Mediterranean Sea, initiated by this programme, will be continued and developped in the coming years.

Aims Measures enforced Issue

Control of factors limiting the populations on Plane and Jarre Islands and on Petit-Congloué and Grand-Congloué Islets

Aim achieved

Population census on the different islands Aim partially achieved

Conservation and reestablishment of Mediterranean Storm Petrel breeding populations

Installation of artificial nests and automatic playback devices in order to attract new breeding pairs

Aim achieved

Control of factors limiting the populations on Plane and Jarre Islands and in the colonies of Frioul Archipelago and Riou Island

Aim achieved

Limitation of human disturbance and predation on Frioul Archipelago

Aim achieved

Increase of the carrying capacity of the breeding sites Aim achieved

Conservation and dynamization of Cory’s Shearwater breeding populations

Regular monitoring of breeding on all colonies Aim achieved Wardening of the breeding colony Aim achieved Monitoring of breeding and of the summer population size on the 2 archipelagos

Aim achieved Conservation and development of the Mediterranean Shag breeding population Study of the species’ diet, and information of the

local fishermen Aim achieved

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5. Result transfer

In order to extend the actions of public awareness the spread of communication tools created during the LIFE programme will continue from 2008 forward. The exhibit will be presented with free access temporarily or permanently in different places (such as the reception point of the Office de la Mer or schools) or during specific events (Mer en Fête, Science-Frontières, Rendez-Vous aux Jardins, etc.). The Internet website will also offer the downloading of all the publications of the LIFE programme (newsletters, brochure, leaflet, display boards, workshop proceedings, management manual and action files). The different communication documents (newsletters, leaflet, brochure, ...) will also be given in the future to the island visitors in situ or during specific events. The manual on the management of seabird populations of the Islands of Marseilles introduces different methods used during the LIFE programme:

- methodologies for the survey of seabird populations,

- control of mammals introduced on the islands,

- Arrangements on seabird colonies. All these methods were developped in the LIFE programme and can be transfered on other protected sites which have the same characteristics as the Islands of Marseilles. This manual will be the fundamental principle for the harmonization of the surveys and the management techniques in the different seabird breeding sites in the Mediterranean.

Management manual

The management actions conducted on the Islands of Marseilles will be continued through:

- the management plans of the 2 archipelagos (2006/2011 for Frioul and 2009/2014 for Riou Archipelago Natural Reserve);

- the objective document 2008/2013 of the Natura 2000 site, written by the CEEP and which resumes a part of the of the logical frame of the LIFE programme.

Thus the actions initiated by the monitoring of seabird populations and the conservation measures will be carried on through the annual management actions of the Riou Archipelago Natural Reserve and the Frioul Islands Maritime Park in order to guarantee favourable conditions for the preservation of seabird populations on the Islands of Marseilles. The proposal of the creation of the Calanques National Park is also in progress, in which the Islands of Marseilles are collectively included in the core of the park. In this context the land and marine territories in the perimeter of the Islands of Marseilles SPA could be incorporated in a global and consistent management unit.

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CEEP also associated with the Conservatoire du Littoral et des Rivages Lacustres in order to develop an international initiative in favour of the small islands of the Mediterranean Sea, the “Small Islands of the Mediterranean” programme, whose aim is to help put in place an effecient and practical management of small insular territories of the Mediterranean.

The management of the Islands of Marseille can be considered as a good example in matters of conservation of the small islands of the Mediterranean Sea. Indeed the management problematics found there are similar to those which occur in most Mediterraenean sites: conservation of species with important heritage value, limitation of invasive species, control of human disturbance, pollution processing, information and awareness of the general public and local actors, etc. The export and sharing of experience obtained on the Islands of Marseilles during the LIFE programme form a contribution to the preservation of a natural heritage common to all the countries of the Mediterranean Basin, which are today threatened by the development of tourism and sailing. These activities make the small Mediterranean islands accessible to a more and more numerous public, with very little knowledge on the patrimonial value and the fragility of insular ecosystems.

Training of managers and wardens of the Reserve of Habibas Islands (Algeria) to

the census of Yellow-legged Gull pairs