Seabirds of the Benguela Ecosystem: Utilisation, Long-Term Changes and Challenges

Abstract

The Benguela Current is used by c. 82 seabird species, of which seven are endemic to it. Eggs and guano of formerly abundant seabirds were heavily harvested in the 19th and 20th centuries but decreases in seabird populations led to cessation of these industries at islands. Guano is still scraped from platforms. Seabird ecotourism has grown. There were large recent decreases in numbers of African Penguins Spheniscus demersus, Cape Gannets Morus capensis and Cape Phalacrocorax capensis and Bank P. neglectus Cormorants and redistributions of these other species away from the centre of the Benguela ecosystem towards its northern or eastern boundaries. In 2020, seabirds endemic to the Benguela ecosystem and albatrosses and petrels migrating into it had high proportions of globally Near Threatened or Threatened species. The primary threat to four Endangered endemic birds was scarcity of forage resources. A Vulnerable endemic damara tern was susceptible to habitat degradation and disturbance. The principal threat to visiting albatrosses and petrels was by-catch mortality. Identification and effective protection of Important Bird Area breeding and marine foraging and aggregation sites, and a suite of complementary measures, are needed to conserve the seabirds and ensure continuation of their economic and ecosystem benefits into the future.

Identifying and Comparing Important Areas for Marine Sustainable Use and Conservation

“…The BCLME is a particularly interesting region to use as an example of identifying areas of importance for marine biodiversity and implementing spatial biodiversity management therein for several reasons. First, it is one of the most productive eastern boundary currents in the world (Heileman and O'Toole, 2009), supporting a variety of iconic species and top predators, such as sharks, seabirds, cetaceans, manatees, seals, and turtles, including several species that are endemic to the region, and many of which are threatened (e.g., Kirkman et al, 2013;Weir, 2019;Makhado et al, 2021). There is also a plethora of key biodiversity features, ecosystems and species, such as mangroves, estuaries, fossilized underwater terrestrial forests, vulnerable marine ecosystems, seamounts and canyons that are sensitive to impacts, generally have prolonged recovery times, and that warrant protection (Boyer et al, 2000;Stevenson and Bamford, 2003;Harris et al, 2013;Kirkman and Nsingi, 2019;Samaai et al, 2020).…”

Practical Marine Spatial Management of Ecologically or Biologically Significant Marine Areas: Emerging Lessons From Evidence-Based Planning and Implementation in a Developing-World Context

“…The BCLME is a particularly interesting region to use as an example of identifying areas of importance for marine biodiversity and implementing spatial biodiversity management therein for several reasons. First, it is one of the most productive eastern boundary currents in the world (Heileman and O'Toole, 2009), supporting a variety of iconic species and top predators, such as sharks, seabirds, cetaceans, manatees, seals, and turtles, including several species that are endemic to the region, and many of which are threatened (e.g., Kirkman et al, 2013;Weir, 2019;Makhado et al, 2021). There is also a plethora of key biodiversity features, ecosystems and species, such as mangroves, estuaries, fossilized underwater terrestrial forests, vulnerable marine ecosystems, seamounts and canyons that are sensitive to impacts, generally have prolonged recovery times, and that warrant protection (Boyer et al, 2000;Stevenson and Bamford, 2003;Harris et al, 2013;Kirkman and Nsingi, 2019;Samaai et al, 2020).…”