Assessing shorebird mortalities due to razor clam aquaculture at key migratory stopover sites in southeastern China

作者：Dan Liang, Tong Mu, Ziyou Yang, Xingli Giam, Yudi Wang, Jing Li, Shangxiao Cai, Xuelian Zhang, Yixiao Wang, Yang Liu, David S. Wilcove · 发表于：Conservation Biology · 年份：2023 · DOI：10.1111/cobi.14185 · 被引用次数：16 · 研究领域：Avian ecology and behavior、Fish Ecology and Management Studies、Marine and fisheries research

Abstract Aquaculture can provide foraging habitat for birds, but it can also result in intentional and accidental mortality. We examined an overlooked conflict between razor clam ( Sinonovacula spp.) aquaculture and declining shorebirds in southeastern China's Fujian and Zhejiang provinces. We surveyed 6 out of 11 internationally important stopover sites for these shorebirds and monitored shorebird mortality in 2 sites (Xinghua Bay, Yueqing Bay) with razor clam aquaculture. We visited an additional 32 sites in these 2 provinces to determine if there was netting in other razor clam farms. Approximately 8–9 km 2 of intertidal foraging habitat was covered by horizontal nets to prevent birds from feeding on young razor clams at Xinghua Bay and Yueqing Bay. We conservatively estimated that 13,676 (2.5th–97.5th percentile 8,330–21,285) individual shorebirds were entangled in the nets at the 2 monitored sites in April and May 2021, including 2 endangered and 7 near‐threatened species. Mortality of 5 species for which we had sufficient data accounted for 0.76% (black‐tailed godwit [ Limosa limosa ]) to 4.27% (terek sandpiper [ Xenus cinereus ]) of their total flyway populations. This level of mortality could strongly affect their populations. We found netting at 17 additional razor clam farms, indicating a widespread threat to shorebirds. Although razor clams are typically harvested in late March to early April, nets are left on the mudflats throughout the spring and summer, includin...