WINTER PERIOD ORNITHOLOGICAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT OF OIL RELATED ACTIVITIES AND SEA TRANSPORTATION IN LITHUANIAN INSHORE WATERS OF THE BALTIC SEA AND IN THE KURŠIŲ LAGOON

Abstract

Abstract Studies carried out during the last decade indicated that a number of key wintering sites of waterfowl and seabirds of NW Europe arc located in brackish waters of the Baltic Sea. Experience of many industrialized countries shows that human activities are likely to cause harm to waterfowl and seabird concentrations, especially in winter, when these birds aggregate in high numbers and become very susceptible to any human impact. The increase of oil related activities and sea transportation in the eastern Baltic in general and in Lithuanian waters in particular gave rise to concern about the well-being of birds wintering in Lithuanian waters. The current study was carried out in order to assess the magnitude and significance of negative impacts of oil related activities, at present and in the future, on wintering waterfowl and seabirds in Lithuanian inshore waters of the Baltic Sea and in the Kuršū Lagoon. Information about the current level of oil related activities and their prospected development in the future, was obtained from various governmental and literature sources. Data on species composition, abundance and distribution of wintering waterfowl and seabirds in Lithuanian inshore waters and in the Kuršiū Lagoon is presented in this work and is used for identification of the most important wintering sites and most vulnerable bird species. This data was collected by means of bird surveys from the coast and airplanes. Beached bird surveys were performed along the Lithuanian Baltic Sea coast, and their results were used for identification of the areas most affected by oil pollution. Four waterfowl and seabird wintering sites of international importance were identified in Lithuanian inshore waters and in the Kuršiū Lagoon during this study. A considerable proportion of total NW European populations of Steller's Eider, Velvet Scoter, Red-throated and Black-throated Divers, Goosander and Smew were found to concentrate in these wintering sites. Steller's Eider was identified as the most sensitive and the most endangered specics wintering in Lithuanian inshore waters. Operational oil pollution from ships at present represents the greatest threat to waterfowl and seabirds wintering in Lithuanian inshore waters, especially in the wintering site along the Palanga coast. Disturbance by sea traffic was not found to represent any major threat to wintering birds at present, except in the immediate vicinity of the Klaipėda port. Future development of oil related activities in Lithuania is likely to cause a substantial threat to waterfowl and seabirds wintering in Lithuanian inshore waters. Therefore, key bird wintering areas in Lithuanian inshore waters and in the Kuršiū Lagoon, especially the one along the coast of Palanga, are recommended to be assigned a protected status. Strict control of operational oil discharges from ships and development of oil spill combating measures is recommended in order to reduce the threat arising to wintering birds from oil pollution.