As a global Partnership, we believe in internationalism. We have translated as much content in your language as our resources allow. Please visit the English language site to view all of our content.
Through the vast ocean basins, more than 40% of seabird species tackle the most extreme conditions on Earth, battling immense winds and ocean swells, all while navigating without landmarks. These are the Marine Flyways.
Seabirds are one of the most threatened groups of birds on the planet, with 56% of populations indecline due to the capture and drowning of seabirds by fisheries (bycatch), invasive predators, and climate change. Many seabirds are migratory, and spend a significant proportion of their life wandering the oceans. This means that effective conservation and management requires coordination and collaboration on a massive international scale.
The six marine flyways, formally recognised by the Convention on Migratory Species in March 2026, provide that framework. They form the international architecture needed to protect migratory seabirds across their full range, much of of which lies beyond national borders in the High Seas. This is why BirdLife and our Partners engage with the High Seas Treaty to coordinate protection for seabirds and the oceans they depend on.
Invasive predators such as rats, mice, and cats are devastating island seabird colonies. We work with local communities and specialists to eradicate these threats and secure the breeding grounds seabirds depend on.
Identifying vital sites
More than 1,300 Key Biodiversity Areas have already been mapped for migratory seabirds, with more added every day. Our Partners lead national advocacy efforts to ensure these critical sites are recognised and protected.
Making fisheries safer
Bycatch is the single greatest threat seabirds face at sea. We work directly with fishing fleets to deploy simple, proven measures that have cut seabird deaths by up to 98%.
Empowering local communities
Conservation works best when communities are at its heart. In Fiji, we’re funding a women’s group to produce bird-scaring lines, protecting seabirds while creating real livelihood opportunities for people across the flyways. Trained by experts to meet approved designs, the group has produced 94 lines so far, distributed to vessels fishing in the highest-risk areas.
Learn more about our work protecting seabirds across the world’s oceans.
We help migratory seabirds across the marine flyways
Pacific Ocean Flyway
Atlantic Ocean Flyway
West Pacific Ocean Flyway
Marine Flyways
PACIFIC OCEAN FLYWAY
BirdLife Pacific Outreach
Hero Species
Endangered Antipodean Albatross is endemic to Aotearoa New Zealand and is under severe threat from fisheries in the Tasman Sea. The mortality of females is so great, there are now two males for every female. These long-lived giants mate for life; bycatch is putting their existence at risk.
We lead an outreach project at the Port of Suva, Fiji. The project engages with the tuna longline vessel captains and crew, that fish in high-risk areas for Antipodean Albatross, to raise awareness and support seabird safe fishing practices. Over 400 fishing vessels have been visited since 2017. Bird-scaring lines, made by a local women’s group, have been given to over 80 vessels at Port Suva.
Future Plans
The Tasman Sea hosts some of the highest seabird densities on Earth, while also boasting high densities of pelagic fish, whales and turtles. We are a key partner in a new consortium that will be supporting a proposal for a high seas marine protected area for the region, including to reduce the risk of bycatch and seabird mortality.
ATLANTIC OCEAN FLYWAY
North Atlantic Current and Evlanov Sea basin Marine Protected Area
Hero Species
Undertaking the longest migration of any animal recorded on Earth, Arctic Terns can travel up to 100,000 km annually, from colonies at high latitudes of the northern hemisphere to the Southern Ocean. In their lifetimes this is the equivalent of flying to the moon and back three times!
Research led by BirdLife used seabird tracking data to identify a Key Biodiversity Area in the North Atlantic. Covering an area the size of France, the area is visited by at least 21 species, including Arctic Terns, which stopover to feed before their southward migration.
Future Plans
The High Seas Treaty entered into force in January 2026 and provides a global framework to establish Marine Protected Areas and other management measures to conserve biodiversity in the High Seas. We continue to use seabird tracking data to identify Key Biodiversity Areas — critical sites for conservation — to inform the implementation of this new agreement.
WEST PACIFIC OCEAN FLYWAY
New Ireland, Papua New Guinea
Hero Species
First described in 1928 and then unseen for nearly 80 years, the Critically Endangered Beck’s Petrel was rediscovered off Latangai (New Ireland) in 2007. Fewer than 250 individuals are thought to survive, and no breeding site has ever been found.
We are deploying satellite transmitters on any Beck’s Petrel captured at-sea, aiming to track the species to reveal its unknown nesting grounds. Community outreach on New Ireland is enlisting local knowledge to help in the search.
Future Plans
Locating the breeding colony of Beck’s Petrel is the essential next step — until we know where these birds nest, we cannot protect them. Once found, we plan to work with local communities to safeguard the site.
MARINE FLYWAYS
The Albatross Task Force
Hero Species
White-chinned Petrel is a Vulnerable species with a circumpolar range, breeding on many sub-Antarctic Islands. Populations are declining throughout their range due to very high rates of mortality by longline fisheries.
The Albatross Task Force, led by BirdLife International and the RSPB, is an international team of experts on a mission to reduce seabird bycatch. Alongside our Partners and collaborators, we developed measures to mitigate bycatch, include bird scaring lines, line weighting and night-setting. Since the creation of the Albatross Task Force in 2004, mortalities of albatrosses and petrels have been reduced by over 90% in the waters around southern Africa.
Future Plans
Through our international advocacy, we have supported the adoption of seabird bycatch mitigation measures across the High Seas. We continue to engage with Regional Fishery Management Organisations to promote the implementation and effective monitoring of seabird-safe measures that are proven to be highly effective.
Play your partto protect nature
Your support is critical to ensure that BirdLife International can continue its work, delivering high impact and long-term conservation for both people and nature.
