DENOFLIT

Title: Inventory of marine species and habitats for development of NATURA 2000 network in the offshore waters of Lithuania

Summary: Areas outside territorial waters have not been studied in a context of the Birds and Habitats Directives either from a species or habitat perspective. Broad-scale sediment and bathymetric charts indicate potential reef areas in all three proposed project territories: Klaipeda-Ventspils Plateau, Sambian Plateau, Klaipeda Bank. Reefs are included in the Annex I of the Habitats Directive. The complex topography of the seabed means that all three project areas are important for fish species, such as pelagic-neritic anadromous twaite shad (Alosa fallax) or demersal anadromous common whitefish (Coregonus lavaretus), which are protected by the Habitats Directive. Both species spawn in the freshwater Curonian Lagoon, but during spawning migrations inhabit some Baltic Sea coastal areas in Lithuania.

It is largely unknown how both species use their habitats during the juvenile feeding and maturation stages; therefore fish inventory surveys are necessary to provide background data on these offshore habitats. Such information will enable the development and implementation of conservation measures. A bird inventory will focus on the identification of the staging areas for the wintering and/or migratory birds, which meet national SPA designation criteria (i.e. exceed 1% of the biogeographical population), including the red-throated diver (Gavia stellata), black-throated diver (Gavia arctica), velvet scoter (Melanitta fusca), long-tailed duck (Clangulahyemalis), razorbill (Alca torda), guillemot (Uria allge) and black guillemot (Cepphus grylle). Should important staging areas of other seabird species be recorded, it is intended that these will be incorporated into the Natura 2000 network.

The LIFE project aims to conduct inventories of marine species and habitats in the offshore waters of the Lithuanian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and designate Natura 2000 areas selected during site evaluation.

Specifically, the project aims to:

• Evaluate sites project areas in the offshore part of the Lithuanian EEZ with respect to habitat types and species listed in the Birds and Habitats Directives for designation of Natura 2000 areas;
• Disseminate project results about marine values and conservation needs to multiple levels of users;
• Elaborate on recommendations for adequate and efficient conservation of habitats and species in the offshore areas of the Lithuanian EEZ

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