State of Africa’s Birds
PRESSURE: Why birds are declining
Future offshore oil and gas production: an emerging threat to seabirds in West Africa
The exploration and exploitation of oil and gas in West Africa, although increasingly seen as an opportunity for rapid development and economic growth, has potentially serious negative consequences for the entire marine ecosystem. Over the last decade, the discovery of valuable oil and gas reserves in several West African countries has brought the attention of the oil industry to this region. Internationally important seabird populations are found breeding on oceanic islands in Cabo Verde (e.g. endemic shearwaters and petrels) and along the mainland coasts from Mauritania to Guinea (e.g. terns and gulls), making the region of outstanding importance for seabird conservation. In the event of a catastrophic oil spill, seabirds like the Royal Tern Thalasseus maximus, of which the world’s largest breeding colony is in Saloum Delta National Park in Senegal, might be at considerable risk. Research carried out by BirdLife and its partners between 2013 and 2016 has extensively documented the use of the West African continental shelf by breeding and wintering seabirds. Tracking data of Royal Terns has shown that feeding ranges are close to recently discovered oil fields. Data also show that significant numbers – and sometimes even entire European populations – of certain seabird species use these waters (e.g. Cape Verde Shearwater Calonectris edwardsii and Northern Gannet Morus bassanus). Furthermore, marine IBAs identified in West Africa also show a considerable overlap with commercial oil and gas exploration blocks. This highlights the importance of oil companies adhering to best practices, particularly when their operations overlap in distribution with critical biodiversity. In this context, BirdLife is engaging with the Abidjan Convention Secretariat to support the development of environmental standards that can take into account the demonstrable risks to marine biodiversity. Royal Tern colony breeding Delta du Saloum National Park Senegal.
(PHOTO: ©VEDA PHOTOGRAPHY)
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