Recommendations

Protect and manage key habitats on landand at sea as a significant contribution to safeguard populations.

3.3.1. Prepare a summary of protected areas containing important kittiwake habitats.

3.3.2. Evaluate the potential of ongoing tools such as the Framework for a Pan-Arctic Network of Marine Protected Areas and other mechanisms to protect habitats important to kittiwakes.

3.3.3. Identify important kittiwake habitats on land and at sea still requiring protection and designate them under national and international systems of protected areas (e.g. Birdlife International’s Important Bird Areas or OSPAR).

3.3.4. Identify, evaluate and implement additional conservation mechanisms such as treaties, agreements, regulations, and policies of value. Consider also collaboration with AMBI.

Habitat protection and enhancement

12. Identify important murre colonies and designate them under national and international systems of protected areas.

13. Promote the establishment of marine protected areas in important pelagic habitats for murres.

14. Contribute to the "Important Bird Areas" system to highlight important areas for murres.

15. Explore the establishment of an international network to identify and protect key areas for murres.

16. Ensure that conservation action will benefit populations, by assessing causes of population declines from an ecosystem perspective.

17. Undertake specific restoration activities to assist depressed populations to recover.

Habitat protection

Objective: Protect key habitat to ensure continued viability of Ivory Gull populations that depend on them.

Actions

• Prepare summary of protected areas containing important Ivory Gull habitats.
• Evaluate the Circumpolar Protected Areas Network (CPAN) and other mechanisms to protect habitats important to the Ivory Gull.
• Identify important Ivory Gull habitat areas still requiring protection and designate them under national and international systems of protected areas (e.g. Birdlife International system, Important Bird Areas).
• Identify and implement any additional protective mechanisms such as treaties, agreements, regulations, and policies needed to protect Ivory Gull habitats.

Improvement of knowledge on limiting demographic factors.

4.2.1. Develop a comprehensive research agenda for each population specifying what information is most needed, how it will be used, and which countries will be involved. Relate this to the Circumpolar Seabird Monitoring Plan and evaluate if necessary.

4.2.2. For each major kittiwake breeding population, estimate population size, productivity, adult survival rates, and identify migration routes and wintering grounds. Also investigate survival rates and distribution of the immature birds.

4.2.3 Investigate the breeding success and population estimates for a larger proportion of the circumpolar population.

4.2.4. Investigate the genetic structures in the different populations.

4.2.5. Implement the Circumpolar Seabird Monitoring Plan (CBird 2015) throughout the circumpolar Arctic.

Research and monitoring:

22. Coordinate circumpolar murre population monitoring and store data in standardized databases.

23. Conduct research on population demography at circumpolar monitoring sites.

24. Develop a coordinated circumpolar murre banding program.

25. Monitor murre feeding ecology and food availability.

26. Monitor murre mortality due to oil pollution, commercial fisheries, and hunting.

27. Conduct research to develop techniques to reduce entrapment in fishing nets.

28. Develop management techniques to restore habitats and populations.

29. Consider the effects of global warming and local eutrophication on murre populations.

30. Assess the need to conduct research into the genetics of murre populations.

Reduce the negative impact of commercial fisheries on breeding success.

2.4.1. Ensure industrial fisheries of pelagic forage fish such as capelin, herring and sandeel are not at a level that limits kittiwakes’ food supply.

2.4.2. Increase research into the resource competition between seabird and fisheries and how this should influence quotas.

Increase knowledge about the colonies in the Arctic.

4.4.1. Finalize an overview of the location of all breeding colonies in the Arctic.

4.4.2. Identify important areas and generate sensitivity maps around the Arctic.

Collaboration and cooperation:

5. Encourage and assist the development and implementation of national murre conservation plans.

6. Coordinate initiatives among circumpolar countries to address shared murre conservation issues.

7. Ensure the involvement of other jurisdictions and groups necessary to effectively implement this action plan.

Reduce the threat of anthropogenic pollution.

2.6.1. Reduce marine litter and plastics by raising public awareness, and through facilitation of environment-friendly handling of garbage etc.

2.6.2. Reduce the risk of local oil spills close to breeding colonies by regulating nearby human activities.

Consumptive use:

1. Ensure that consumptive uses of murres are sustainable.
2. Monitor harvest levels and assess their impacts on populations.
3. Harmonize management and harvest regimes for shared populations.
4. Involve local and Indigenous people in the management of consumptive uses.

Monitor occurrence ofdiseases in seabird populations.

1.9.1. Monitor bird flu and other diseases and minimize their impacts.