LIFE Mobile Marine Species

Introduction

Mobile marine species suffer from various threats at sea and on coasts. Risks are multiple: mortality in fishing gear (bycatch, post-catch mortality, ghost fishing), loss of functional habitats (including IAS), and disturbance. These threats lead to mortality, injury, and reproductive failure.

Project Goals

LIFE Mobile Marine Species aims to improve the conservation of four marine taxa: 5 elasmobranchs, 4 marine mammals, 12 seabirds, and 2 sea turtles and their representative species. These taxa face similar threats that can only be effectively addressed jointly by:

1. Restoring and Protecting Habitats

   • Restoring, creating, or depolluting 630 favorable nesting sites (and avoiding 50 related deaths).
   • Restoring 200 ha of mudflats.

2. Reducing Predation

   • Protecting 34% to 100% of the breeding population of 7 seabird species (depending on the species) from non-native species.

3. Reducing Disturbance Pressure

   • Involving 152 professional organizations and municipalities to improve their practices.
   • Providing efficient digital tools available for all Metropolitan coasts (+40,000 users).
   • Creating 42 Strong Protection Areas (Zones de protection forte).

4. Reducing Fishing Gear Mortality

   • Testing 22 devices to reduce bycatch on 89 boats, representing 2% of the metropolitan fleet (6000 days at sea monitored).
   • Achieving at least a 50% reduction in bycatch of marine turtles, birds, and elasmobranchs on these boats, and a 1/3 reduction in bycatch of dolphins and seals.
   • Ensuring 520 boats use tested bycatch reduction devices, removing 100 ghost nets, developing one new biodegradable net, and implementing new regulatory measures.

5. Increasing Acceptability of Conservation Measures

   • Ensuring the sustainability and widespread replication of conservation measures.

Stakeholder Involvement

Life MMS has been co-constructed with stakeholders. It has broad support from administration, professionals, NGOs, and scientists that will enable it to reach its goals.