Welcome to NACES!
Welcome to NACES! This 600,000 km2 Marine Protected Area in the Northeast Atlantic was discovered through a huge collaborative effort led by BirdLife International and is a major hotspot for over 5 million seabirds and several threatened species. Take a deep breath and dive straight into it – you will discover the marine species that depend on it and why it’s crucial to protect all of NACES, including the seafloor!
Why is NACES MPA important?
NACES - The North Atlantic Current and Evlanov Sea basin - is a major seabird hotspot in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean. It was discovered through a huge collaborative effort led by BirdLife International. Using tracking data from 21 different species from 56 colonies across the North and South Atlantic, BirdLife mapped an area the size of France that is used by up to 5 million seabirds annually. This makes it one of the most important hotspots of migratory seabirds in the Atlantic and the first discovery of seabird concentrations of this magnitude ever documented on the high seas.
This area was designated as a Marine Protected Area by the OSPAR Convention in October 2021. And while this is great news, unfortunately, the protection of NACES’ seafloor was not included. Keep scrolling to find out why it is essential to protect NACES from sea surface to seafloor!
- Designated on the 1st October 2021 at OSPAR Ministerial Meeting (came into force on the 19th April 2022).
- IBA used by up to 5 million birds, 21 species, tracked from 16 countries.
- Seabirds are foraging in the area, and many regularly use the site to fuel their long migrations.
- Most seabirds use the site during their non-breeding stage – a period of their lifecycle that is currently poorly protected.
- First high seas MPA to be identified solely based on tracking data provided by Birdlife; 2,188 individual birds tracked from 105 colonies allowed the identification of this important site.
- Designation is by OSPAR, which is the mechanism by which 15 Governments & the EU cooperate to protect the marine environment of the North-East Atlantic.
Black legged kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla)
The Black-legged Kittiwake is a vulnerable species, declining due to threats impacting their foraging areas. NACES is a vital feeding area for this species, and crucial for their breeding success.
Arctic Tern (Sterna paradisaea)
Arctic Terns make, by far, the longest migration known in the animal kingdom! They travel 90,000 km (55,923 miles) from pole to pole every year — from Greenland in the North to the Weddell Sea in the South. This species uses NACES to fuel its trans-equatorial migrations.
Long Tailed Jaegar (Stercorarius longicaudus)
The word "jaeger" is derived from the German word "Jäger", meaning "hunter". The Long-tailed Jaeger spends up to 70% of the year at sea. Over 50% of the population uses NACES during both spring and summer.
Thick Billed Murre (Uria lomvia)
More than 160,000 Thick-billed Murres can be found at NACES all year round. These seabirds only come to land to breed on rocky cliff shores or islands and spend the vast majority of their time at sea. They can dive an impressive 200 meters deep when foraging!
Atlantic Puffin (Fratercula arctica)
These iconic seabirds can dive as deep as 40 meters when foraging. They mostly prey on small fish and catch an average of 10 fish per trip. Over 900,000 Atlantic Puffins use NACES as their wintering spot.
Additional conservation features can strengthen the protection of this area
The seafloor ecosystems of NACES are key to safeguard the trophic chains which support the biodiversity above, including seabirds.
Much scientific research explicitly links upper-ocean properties and dynamics to the ecology and biogeochemistry of the seafloor, which is why marine protected areas must be fully protected, from sea surface to seafloor.
In a world where nature at sea is constantly threatened by human activities, the overexploitation of natural resources, and climate change, a holistic approach that accounts for entire ecosystems and their connections is essential.
Unfortunately, OSPAR did not include the seafloor of NACES in the final designation of the site. This is why the BirdLife Partnership calls on the OSPAR Commission to vote for the protection of additional conservation features, including the seafloor in June 2023. Keep scrolling and sign our petition to support us.
Blue Shark
Tracking studies show both blue and shortfin mako sharks making deep dives within the NACES MPA. Sharks feed on cephalopods that live near the seafloor but migrate vertically each day.
Sei and Fin Whale
NACES could be an important migratory corridor for Sei whales. These whales show a clear habitat preference for subpolar waters (above 45°N). Sightings from research expeditions confirm a relatively high abundance of cetaceans in this area. Their distributions are strongly associated with the availability of their prey such as zooplankton and small schooling fish in NACES.
Mesopelagic fish
The NACES MPA is a global hotspot for mesopelagic fish, with some of the highest densities in the world measured in the area. Mesopelagic fish form the basis of the food chain for many of the higher predators using the site (including seabirds), and also play an important role in the carbon cycle (see above).
European Eel
The NACES MPA is an important part of the trajectory of eel larvae from the Sargasso Sea spawning grounds, through the OSPAR Maritime Area, to European continental waters.
Deep-sea sponges
A survey on Mount Doom, a seamount present in NACES, found benthic communities with high biological diversity including deep-sea sponges and soft corals.
Why is it important to include the seafloor?
Seafloor ecosystems are key to safeguard the food chain that all species depend on. The fluidity of water means that marine ecosystems – from water column to seafloor – are intrinsically connected. Any alterations (e.g. from human activities) in one of these two elements is bound to affect and disturb the other.
Among the visitors of the area, we can find iconic species such as the Atlantic Puffin, the Arctic Tern, and the Little Auk. But this area is not only important for seabirds. Under the surface, the NACES Marine Protected Area is home to abundant and diverse marine biodiversity. The site is important for several threatened species such as Blue Whales, Leatherback Turtles, Loggerhead Turtles, Atlantic Bluefin Tunas, Basking Sharks, Corals, and Deep-Sea Sponges. Without a protected seafloor, this haven for nature will stay at risk.
What is the scientific evidence supporting protection of the seafloor?
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Seafloor Biodiversity
Learn moreSeafloor Biodiversity
The seafloor within NACES is highly biodiverse, and has a wide range of biotopes such as the Evlanov Seamount and Mount Doom caldera. These deep-water ecosystems play an important role in supporting benthic species, such as corals and crabs, and pelagic species, such as tuna and sharks, increasing fish abundance, and even serving as nursery areas for invertebrates and fish.
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Ecosystems
Learn moreEcosystems
Seafloor ecosystems are key to safeguarding the food chain that all species in the area depend on. The fluidity of water means that marine ecosystems – from water column to seafloor – are intrinsically connected. Any alterations (e.g., from human activities) in one of these two elements is bound to affect and disturb the other.
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Carbon Storage
Learn moreCarbon Storage
NACES has a high carbon sequestration potential. Sediments in abyss/basin zones account for 79% of the global marine sediment carbon stock. Given the size of NACES, the sediment within the site is likely to represent a significant carbon storage. Research indicates a high abundance of mesopelagic fish on the site, which play an important role in the cycle of carbon. Together with other ecological and oceanographic processes occurring within the site they contribute to the transport of carbon to the deep sea.
The protection of the seafloor will contribute to OSPAR's objective to mitigate climate change and ocean acidification, including by safeguarding the marine environment’s role as a natural carbon store.