The Yelkouan Shearwater Project is Malta’s largest conservation initiative. It is important because the Maltese Islands are home to approximately 10% of the world’s population of Yelkouan Shearwaters (Puffinus yelkouan).

The main aim of the project is to protect the birds at the largest breeding site, Rdum tal-Madonna, in the North of Malta. The Project will also improve this protected site for wildlife and visitors. At a national level, we aim to increase breeding pairs by the end of the project in 2010 and to set an example for the management of other protected sites in Malta. We will also be finding out more about the areas that the birds use at sea, so that these can be protected as Marine Special Protection Areas.

One of the strengths of the project is that it is a partnership of four government authorities and three conservation organisations. The project is 50% funded by the EU Life Nature Fund. MEPA and HSBC are also supporting the project with financial contributions. This partnership approach is an innovative way of working in Malta and will ensure we achieve our project aims and secure the long term future for the birds.