1 WS/NE = West Siberia/North Europe population; I/G = Iceland/Greenland population. 5 – POLICIES AND LEGISLATION 5.1 Global status The Long-tailed Duck is a globally threatened species, classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List since 2012. A large decline of 65% in the Baltic Sea, where most of the global population occurs in winter, since the beginning of the 1990s implies that the global population will undergo a 59% decline over three generations, even when factoring-in uncertainty regarding the sizes and trends of other populations. 5.2 International conservation and legal status of the species The Long-tailed Duck is listed in several Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs). The species’ status under most other relevant Conventions, Directives and Agreements does not, however, yet reflect its current global status (Table 2). Table 2. Summary of the international conservation and legal status of the European populations of Long-tailed Duck. Year in parentheses indicates when the classification was last reviewed. Global status European status EU Birds Directive Bern CMS AEWA HELCOM W. Siberia/ N. Europe (A4bce) (2012) Vulnerable 4abcde) (2015) Annex II, Part B (1979) Appendix III (1979) Not listed B2c (1999) Not listed EN Endangered (2013) Not listed Iceland & Greenland C1 (1999) n/a It is important to note that there are several international instruments and MEAs that either do not apply throughout the range of Long-tailed Duck, or to which Principal Range States are not a Party. Most notably these are EU Directives, the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) and its subsidiary the African-Eurasian Waterbird Agreement (AEWA) (Table 3). 3. Applicability of major international conservation instruments to Principal Range States for the Long-tailed Duck. Principal State EU Directives & Policies Bern Convention CMS AEWA CBD Ramsar Convention Denmark Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Estonia Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Faroe Islands (to Denmark) n/a No Yes Yes No Yes Finland Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Germany Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Greenland (to Denmark) n/a No No No Yes Yes Iceland No Yes No Yes Yes Yes Ireland Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Latvia Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Lithuania Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Norway No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Poland Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes
if hunting continues, is sustainable. assessments of sustainability are collected and promptly reported Assessments of sustainability by relevant experts indicate that the annual harvest is below the harvestable surplus threshold An adaptive harvest management regime is in place to ensure the sustainability of future harvesting and is effectively implemented in all range states where hunting is allowed Hunters are informed of the need for restraint when hunting Long-tailed Ducks Reports of sustainability assessments FACE and national hunting organisations member communication records 1.4. A network of protected covering all important sites throughout the lifecycle, is designated and maintained. Surveys identify a comprehensive network of important sites and their carrying capacity National and international inventories of important sites are and reported to LtDIWG A sufficient suite of important sites, covering all periods of the life cycle, is legally protected Management plans for protected sites that take account of the needs of Long-tailed Ducks are prepared and implemented Knowledge of important is incorporated into marine spatial plans and impact assessment processes Survey reports and dataset National IBA inventories National inventories of protected sites Site management plans Sensitivity map available and disseminated National archives of environmental assessments
Produce sensitivity map to inform marine spatial planning, to minimise effects of offshore marine industries and potentially damaging activities on important Long-tailed Duck concentrations High By 2021 Range States Ensure that appropriate Strategic Environmental Assessments and/or Cumulative Impact Assessments are undertaken for major developments that may together have a potential impact on Ducks and which may not be obvious when undertaking single project assessments High Ongoing Range States 9. Result 2.1.: The understanding of population status is improved. Action Priority Timescale Organisations Assess coverage and methodologies of existing national monitoring schemes, and design suitable synchronised survey to determine population trend High By 2016 Wetlands International, National monitoring scheme coordinators Implement synchronised annual survey of representative sample of sites in winter to determine population trend High Established by 2018; ongoing and repeated at least twice in every 6 year period Range States, Wetlands International, National monitoring scheme coordinators Undertake periodic coordinated full surveys in winter to determine population size, linked to Marine Strategy Framework and Birds Directives reporting requirements High Every 6 years, combined with national monitoring programs Range States, Wetlands International, National monitoring scheme coordinators Undertake sample surveys on the breeding grounds to assess population trend Low By 2025 Range States, Wetlands International, National monitoring scheme coordinators, universities Undertake photographic surveys at representative sites and times in the wintering range to assess age and sex ratios High Established by 2018, then ongoing annually Range States, Wetlands International, National monitoring scheme coordinators
Table 10. Result 2.2.: Key knowledge gaps about populations, demographics and threats are addressed. Action Priority Timescale Organisations Produce more reliable estimates of birds affected by oiling incidents High By 2018 Range States, HELCOM, OSPAR, shipping industries Produce up-to-date estimates of birds affected by bycatch in wintering and breeding areas High By 2018 Range States, fishing industries Undertake integrated surveys of breeding success and its drivers to assess loss at each stage and to assess breeding propensity Medium Established by 2021, then ongoing Range States, Wetlands International, National monitoring scheme coordinators, universities Undertake coordinated telemetry program to describe annual use of sites for delineation of populations and potential sub-populations Medium Significant progress by 2021 Range States, universities Evaluate and monitor breeding densities and habitat quality over the breeding range Medium Significant progress by 2025 Range States, universities Collect data about female body condition in spring Low By 2025 Range States, universities Clarify link between loss of Blue Mussel stocks (e.g. due to Round Goby) and Long-tailed Duck distribution and predict impact Medium By 2025 Range States, universities Clarify effect of changing nutrient inputs on quality and quantity of food Medium By 2025 Range States, universities Clarify effect of hazardous substances on quality and quantity of food Medium By 2025 Range States, universities Identify food preferences and availability in space and time, and thus assess site carrying capacity and stability Medium By 2025 Range States, universities
Population status Survey methods Consensus on the best survey methods e.g. aerial or for accurate population size estimates High WS/NE; I/G Population status Data analysis Can datasets from aerial ship surveys be combined for accurate estimation of population size and trend Medium WS/NE; I/G Demography Annual breeding success Population scale estimates of annual breeding success (based on winter ratios of adult males, young males, and females) High WS/NE; I/G Demography Annual breeding success Estimates of clutch size, hatching success, fledging success and breeding season parameters Medium WS/NE; I/G Demography Annual breeding success Estimate of breeding propensity of individual females in WS/NE population High WS/NE Demography Annual breeding success Estimate of breeding propensity of individual females in I/G population Medium I/G Demography Survival Estimate of survival rates for all age/sex cohorts in both populations Medium WS/NE; I/G Population dynamics Limitations to productivity Clarify causes of apparent low breeding success, e.g. faltering lemming cycles High WS/NE; I/G Population dynamics Limitations to productivity Extent to breeding success governed by food availability in spring staging, and potentially wintering areas High WS/NE; I/G Ecology Diet during spring Proportional representation of prey types, e.g. Bivalves, fish, in spring diet Medium WS/NE; I/G Ecology Limitations to food availability Extent of 'drying-out' of tundra pools in key breeding areas, and effects on invertebrate abundance Medium WS/NE; I/G Ecology Limitations to food availability Evidence of phenological mismatch relating to arrival of females, hatching, and emergence of aquatic invertebrates Medium WS/NE; I/G Ecology Limitations to food availability Identify key limitations to food availability in wintering and staging areas High WS/NE; I/G Methods Consensus on census methodology Medium WS/NE; I/G Methods Can datasets from aerial and ship surveys be combined for accurate estimation of population size and trend Medium WS/NE; I/G 1 WS/NE = West Siberia/North Europe population; I/G = Iceland/Greenland population.