National census to assess status of sooty tern population |07 June 2021

The national sooty tern census is taking place during the whole month of June across all the islands where there are known nesting colonies of sooty terns

The Ministry of Agriculture, Climate Change and Environment (MACCE) is conducting a national sooty tern census for the whole month of June across all the islands where there are known nesting colonies of sooty terns.

The islands on which the census is taking place include Cosmoledo, Desnoeufs, Bird, Aride, Recif, Farquhar, Etoile, Boudeuse and African Banks.

The census is being done by staff of the environment department in collaboration with partners such as the Islands Development Company (IDC), Island Conservation Society (ICS), the Seychelles Coast Guard and the Seychelles Police.

In a press interview on Wednesday 2, 2021 at the ministry’s headquarters, Le Chantier Mall, the principal secretary for Environment, Denis Matatiken, said the main objective of the census is to determine the status of the sooty tern population in Seychelles in terms of quantitative indication of the population size and its distribution across islands, and in comparison with past surveys and to determine the level of eggs harvesting, in order to better guide policy and decision making for future management of the species.

Also present at the interview was the ministry’s senior legal officer, Sharon Gerry, and the director for conservation, Ashley Dias.

“With the findings of this survey it will enable the ministry to better put in place management measures, especially with regard to egg harvesting in the near future,” PS Matatiken said.

He noted that harvesting of eggs, climate change and availability of food for the birds are the main threats to sustainability of the population of sooty terns.

PS Matatiken said that following the results of the census, which will be published in November 2021, the ministry will be in better position to determine what future actions will be taken with regard to the harvesting of bird eggs, a delicacy consumed by a large proportion of local residents.

“Based on the findings, if there is a decline in the population, the ministry will have to see where and how the eggs are to be collected, the introduction of quotas maybe, a closed season or no collection at all for an indefinite period of time until the bird’s population is seen as sustainable for collection of eggs,” PS Matatiken said, noting that June has been chosen for the census as it is the peak breeding season for the birds.

To support the implementation of the census and to ensure that correct information is collected, the ministry has declared the 2021 season for bird eggs collection closed for twelve months as from June 1, 2021 through regulations that have come into force.

Members of the public are advised that due to the closed season, they will not be allowed to collect bird eggs on any of the islands of the Seychelles for the remainder of 2021, meaning there will be no bird eggs on the market for 2021.

Following the last survey on the status of the bird’s population conducted in 1999 (albeit not on all islands) and the low harvest of bird eggs in 2020, among other information gathered, PS Matatiken said this shows that the status of the sooty tern colonies in Seychelles is poorly understood and there is particular concern that the harvesting of the eggs for local consumption over many years has directly and negatively affected their populations.

Before this closed season, bird eggs were only allowed to be collected on Cosmoledo by the Islands Development Company (IDC) and on Bird Island by its management in 2020.

Ms Gerry stated that due to the closed season this year, poachers will be prosecuted and could face fines ranging from R5000 to R500,000 under the law.

Ms Dias, who noted that the species is on the decline in other regions of the world, called on the general public, especially those who consume the eggs, to bear with the ministry through the short period of the census that will ensure that they (consumers) can continue to enjoy the delicacy in the future.

The environment department’s mandate, through its biodiversity conservation and management division is to implement and promote the conservation of species, including the long-term sustainable utilisation of resources. The census is therefore an important action to ensure that the harvesting of sooty tern eggs is not affecting the populations of the species.

Press release from the environment department/Patrick Joubert