Brochure: Monitoring Illegal Bird Killing in the Mediterranean

Many migratory birds crossing the Mediterranean are illegally killed or trapped, mainly for food, as pets, or for sale. According to BirdLife International’s 2016 study, up to 25 million birds may be killed each year in this region. This illegal activity is a major concern for the conservation of those species, undermining species protection and hindering population recovery.

Why monitoring matters

Illegal activities are difficult to monitor due to a lack of reliable data and unwillingness of perpetrators to report them. However, effective monitoring is essential to determine the scale and scope of the issue and inform appropriate action within a country. Monitoring the level of illegal taking is central to deciding if, by who, what, where, how, and when action should be taken.