ICS RELEASES POSITION PAPER ON THE COLLECTION OF SOOTY TERN EGGS IN SEYCHELLES

POSITION STATEMENT OF ICS
Island Conservation Society (ICS) recognises that:

• ICS is involved directly or indirectly with the conservation management of islands hosting the majority of breeding pairs of Sooty Terns in Seychelles.
• Seychelles has been producing cutting edge research about Sooty Tern biology and ecology.
  
• Early indications from the 2021 National Sooty Tern Census reveal an alarming decline in populations.
• Sooty Tern populations in Seychelles have been impacted by several factors including regulated and unregulated collection of eggs.
• Legal regulation of quotas for Sooty Tern egg harvesting has been based on fragmentary an imperfect knowledge of the national population and threats.
• Poaching  has persisted and legislation has not been effectively enforced.
• Emerging threats to Sooty tern populations and other seabirds include degradation of the marine ecosystem due to climate change, pollution and overfishing.

 
Therefore, to assist conservation actions and informed decisions, ICS calls for:

• Full support to the annual population assessments using a consistent and precise methodology in order to better understand long-term population trends.
• Continued monitoring of Sooty Tern biology and ecology including breeding success, survival and recruitment of juveniles into the breeding population, movements and foraging at sea.
• Research into how changes in the marine ecosystem may be impacting the food supply for Sooty Terns and other seabird populations.
• Renewed government support to make legislation for the protection of seabirds effective, respected by the public and enforcement adequately funded.
• An annual assessment of scientific evidence and changing conservation requirements leading to a revision of lawful Sooty Tern egg collection.
• A national debate to sensitise the general public about the relevance and justification for Sooty Tern egg cropping in Seychelles in the 21st century.

The full paper can be downloaded here