Circumpolar Seabird Expert Group (CBird)

 

Populations of seabirds in the circumpolar region are large and diverse. These species are important components of Arctic ecosystems, and are culturally and economically important for local communities. Since seabirds travel great distances over both marine and terrestrial environments, they are excellent indicators of overall ecosystem health. Arctic countries often share the same seabird populations. Consequently, there is a joint and equal responsibility for the conservation of seabirds in and outside the Arctic.

Recent Submissions

  • International Black-legged Kittiwake Conservation Strategy and Action Plan 

    CAFF (Arctic Council Secretariat, 2021-05)
    The goal of this strategy and action plan is to facilitate circumpolar implementation of initiatives to conserve and protect the circumpolar kittiwake population. The plan is developed by the Circumpolar Seabird Expert ...

  • What’s the catch with lumpsuckers? A North Atlantic study of seabird bycatch in lumpsucker gillnet fisheries 

    CAFF (Arctic Council Secretariat, 2021-05)
    This factsheet presents the findings of the first effort to quantify the potential impacts on seabird populations of a species-specific fishing activity across its entire range. It provides an understanding of the overall ...

  • Quantifying the relative impact of hunting and oiling on Brünnich’s guillemots in the North-west Atlantic 

    CAFF (Arctic Council Secretariat, 2021-05)
    Brünnich’s guillemot is an abundant pan-Arctic seabird, but several Atlantic breeding populations are declining by up to 6% per year. They are subject to traditional hunting in the wintering areas off west Greenland ...

  • 2021 SAMBR Update - Seabirds 

    CAFF (Arctic Council Secretariat, 2021-05)
    In 2017, the State of the Arctic Marine Biodiversity Report (SAMBR) synthesized data about biodiversity in Arctic marine ecosystems around the circumpolar Arctic. SAMBR highlighted observed changes and relevant monitoring ...

  • Arctic Seabirds Breeding in the African-Eurasian Waterbird Agreement (AEWA) Area: Status and Trends 

    Hentati-Sundberg, Jonas (Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF), 2011-03)
    This report summarizes population status and trends for 19 populations of Arctic seabirds. It is compiled as an input to the 2012 African-Eurasian Waterbird Agreement (AEWA) Report on the Conservation Status of Migratory ...

  • Seabird Harvest in the Arctic 

    Merkel, Flemming; Barry, Tom (Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF), 2008-09)
    As assessment of seabird harvest in the Arctic by the Circumpolar Seabird Group (CBird). Whether seabird harvest is a real conservation concern is often not addressed or poorly documented in the circumpolar region due ...

  • International Ivory Gull Conservation Strategy and Action Plan 

    Gilchrist, Grant; Strøm, Hallvard; Gavrilo, Maria V.; Mosbech, Anders (Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF), 2008-09)
    An Internaitonal Ivory Gull Conservation Strategy and Action Plan developed to gain more insight into how this under-studied bird responds to increasing threats from disappearance of sea ice habitat, natural resource ...

  • Framework for a Circumpolar Arctic Seabird Monitoring Network 

    Petersen, Aevar; Irons, David; Anker-Nilsen, Tycho; Artukhin, Yuri; Barrett, Robert; Boertmann, David; Egevang, Carsten; Gavrilo, Maria V.; Gilchrist, Grant; Martti, Hario; Mallory, Mark; Mosbech, Anders; Olsen, Bergur; Osterblom, Henrik; Robertson, Greg; Strøm, Hallvard (Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF), 2008-09)
    A framework document for developing an integrated monitoring framework for seabirds. The document outlines the findings of the CBird expert group in the development of a Circumpolar Seabird Monitoring Network.

  • Distribution of Murres Outside the Breeding Season: Circumpolar Murre Banding Program 

    Petersen, Aevar; Bakken, Vidar (Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF), 2004)
    A proposal for a co-operative banding (called ringing in the UK) project between the Arctic countries, which are responsible for the total breeding population of Thick-billed Murres (called Brünnich’s Guillemots in the UK) ...

  • Seabird Harvest Regimes in the Circumpolar Nations 

    Denlinger, Lynn; Wohl, Kenton (Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF), 2001)
    This technical report introduces the topic of seabird harvest regimes and describes the seabird harvest regimes and impacts in Alaska (U.S.A.), Canada, Finland, Greenland, Iceland, Norway and Russia, and provides national ...

  • Workshop on Seabird Incidental Catch in the Waters of Arctic Countries - Report and Recommendations 

    Chardine, John W.; Porter, Julie M.; Wohl, Kenton D. (Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF), 2000-04)
    The workshop goals were to: Exchange the latest information on the problem of seabird incidental catch in waters of Arctic countries, the seabird species and fisheries involved and temporal, spatial, and other patterns ...

  • Human Disturbance at Arctic Seabird Colonies 

    Chardine, John; Mendenhall, Vivian (Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF), 1998-01)
    The report analyzes various human activities and the disturbances they may cause in Arctic seabird colonies and makes recommendations to reduce the harm in such activities.

  • Global Overview of the Conservation of Migratory Arctic Breeding Birds Outside the Arctic 

    Scott, David A. (1998-08)
    This report describes the migratory birds of the Arctic, their migration systems, and how they are already protected under international legislation when they leave the Arctic.

  • Circumpolar Eider Conservation Strategy and Action Plan 

    Unknown author (Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF), 1997-06)
    Drastic decline in eider populations, combined with their circumpolar distribution, increased hunting pressures and cultural significance led CBird to develop a Circumpolar Eider Conservation Strategy and Action Plan.

  • National Principles and Mechanisms for Protected Areas in the Arctic Countries 

    Belikov, Stanislas; Legare, Gregg J. (Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF), 1996-03)
    The paper is a review of the principles, mechanisms and criteria used by CAFF countries to establish protected areas. It is based on responses to the Russian/CAFF Secretariat questionnaire on the subject from seven of ...

  • Incidental Take of Seabirds in Commercial Fisheries in the Arctic Countries 

    Bakken, Vidar; Falk, Knud (Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF), 1998-01)
    This report introduces the topic of incidental take of seabirds in commercial fisheries and describes the fisheries industries, seabird bycatch and impacts in Alaska (U.S.A.), Canada, Finland, Greenland, Iceland, Norway ...

  • International Murre Conservation Strategy and Action Plan 

    Unknown author (Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF), Arctic Environment, 1996)
    Facilitate circumpolar implementation of initiatives to conserve, protect and restore murre populations in the Arctic.