Almost a year after the Portuguese Society for the Study of Birds (SPEA) made public the shocking images of dead birds in aquaculture protection nets, «the situation remains a bit across the country», with recent episodes recorded in the Aveiro estuary area by the local Quercus nucleus. And the Institute for the Conservation of Nature and Forests (ICNF) «continues not to act», denounces the SPEA.
Therefore, SPEA, Milvoz association, ANP-WWF Portugal, Sciaena, GEOTA, APECE and OMA now demand that the Ministries of Environment and the Sea, under whose tutelage are the authorities responsible for the inspection and regulation of the sector, «abandon the inertia and implement solutions, so that safeguarding aquacultures is not a threat to wild birds”.
“There are technical solutions, there is openness on the part of the sector, but there is clearly a lack of political will, both in the Ministry of the Environment and in the Ministry of the Sea, to prevent the birds from continuing to die”, says Joana Andrade, coordinator of the Department of Marine Conservation at SPEA.
Cormorants, eagles, herons and other birds seek to feed on the fish being reared in aquaculture ponds. Aquaculturists, to protect their livelihood, place nets on the surface of the tanks to prevent the birds from reaching the fish.
Under the law, these networks can only be installed under a license from the ICNF, which must guarantee that protected species are not affected.
However, a large number of aquacultures in Portugal have nets installed where numerous birds are trapped every year, including protected species such as the saddler eagle and the stilt.
In light of these facts, SPEA considers that "it is clear that the authorities responsible for monitoring and supervising aquacultures, namely the ICNF and the Directorate-General for Natural Resources, Safety and Maritime Services (DGRM), are not fulfilling their duty" .
“There are European funds to mitigate the environmental impact of aquacultures, which are often located in protected areas; it is urgent to mobilize these funds», adds Joana Andrade. "Only then will we be promoting a more sustainable aquaculture".
“The problematic nets are made of thin, transparent nylon thread, practically invisible to birds. When flying towards the tank, the birds hit the wire and are left with deep cuts on the body and wings, even drowning. Others become entangled in this trap and spend hours trying to break free, eventually succumbing to exhaustion, hunger and dehydration. Therefore, the prompt and adequate intervention of aquaculturists can make a difference”, explains SPEA.
The Portuguese Association of Aquaculturists has been committed to finding solutions, with some aquaculturists even asking SPEA for advice on how to prevent birds from dying on their farms.
However, «the obstacle has always come from the authorities that should protect Nature».
SPEA, Associação MilVoz, Portuguese Association of Aquaculturists, Oriolus, ICNF and DGRM even outlined a set of procedures that aquaculturists should follow whenever they encounter birds in their nets. "These procedures could save birds, but they were not disclosed by the ICNF nor by the DGRM, which again did not respond to civil society", he adds.
“The failure of the authorities is even more incomprehensible given that there are alternative solutions that can reduce this mortality. There are black nets, which birds can see more easily, which may allow them to dodge in time. Using a tighter mesh, these nets would also prevent birds from getting trapped. And they can be used along with measures to scare off birds, such as colored ribbons or replica predators. These and other solutions should be tested, closely monitoring their effectiveness», says the SPEA.
“The Portuguese authorities must act, and act now. For the moral imperative of preventing the death of these birds, for the legal obligation to protect endangered species, and for the duty to safeguard the future of this economic sector», reiterates Joana Andrade.
Photos: MilVoz Association
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