The LIFE Artina: Seabird Conservation Network in the Adriatic project was led by BIOM Association, the BirdLife representative in Croatia, together with the Association for Nature, Environment and Sustainable Development Sunce, the Public Institution Nature Park Lastovo Islands, and BirdLife Malta. The main aim of the project was to address the key threats to three seabird species: the Audouin’s gull, the Scopoli’s shearwater, and the Yelkouan shearwater. The name Artina is derived from the local dialect of Lastovo Island for the Yelkouan shearwater.
Project-specific objectives were:
• Identify marine SPAs in Croatia for all three project species.
• Assess the main threats affecting seabird populations in the project area and define actions to mitigate them.
• Eradicate invasive black rats that negatively impact shearwater breeding colonies.
Project budget
€1,921,387
Project code
LIFE17 NAT/HR/000594
Project duration
Start: 01/09/2018
End: 30/08/2023 (extended to 30/06/2025)
Project website: www.lifeartina.eu
Project achievements
The project’s main achievement was the identification of marine Important Bird Areas for the three target species. On 05/06/2025, the Government of the Republic of Croatia adopted a new Regulation on the Ecological Network, extending the Natura 2000 network to marine areas. This included the designation of sites for the Yelkouan shearwater (Puffinus yelkouan) and Scopoli’s shearwater (Calonectris diomedea), based on LIFE Artina results.
The project also enabled the first collaborations with local fishers on seabird bycatch mitigation. The next essential steps will be the adoption and implementation of concrete conservation measures proposed for the newly designated marine SPAs.
On land, the project recorded several positive outcomes, including the discovery of Scopoli’s and Yelkouan shearwaters nesting on six new islets in the Lastovo Archipelago. Rodents were eradicated from several islands and controlled annually on others. These conservation actions led to an increase in breeding success of the Yelkouan shearwater by 39% and the Scopoli’s shearwater by 8%. With expertise from RSPB and NEMO, feasibility plans for rat eradication on Sušac were also completed, paving the way for future conservation work in the region.
Read more about the project in the Layman’s Report: https://www.lifeartina.eu/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Artina-Layman-report-EN.pdf
BirdLife Malta’s role
BirdLife Malta’s main role in LIFE Artina was to provide expertise on Yelkouan shearwater monitoring, invasive mammal management, and a feasibility study for rat eradication on Sušac Island, with the aim of improving seabird reproductive success and restoring natural habitats. The project was planned with support from experts in seabird conservation, including BirdLife Malta staff.
In Malta, we also obtained GPS-tracking data for both shearwater species, which has already contributed to scientific research (https://doi.org/10.1093/etojnl/vgae011 and https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-025-04748-8). In addition, we developed an algorithm to identify shearwater calls from audio recordings, which is greatly improving species monitoring. Overall, BirdLife Malta increased its capacity and knowledge in seabird conservation and demonstrated the importance of international collaboration to secure a future for seabirds.
BirdLife Malta’s contribution to the project has been co-funded by the NGO Co-Financing Fund (NCF), managed by the Malta Council for the Voluntary Sector (MCVS) and supported by the Ministry for Inclusion and the Voluntary Sector (MIV).
