Summary/History
Spain has a large marine territory of over 1,000,000 km2 encompassing three main biogeographical marine regions: the Mediterranean, Atlantic and Macaronesia which host a wide diversity of seabird species with priority trigger species including the Cory's Shearwater (LC), Little shearwater (LC), European Shag (LC) and European Storm-petrel (LC), in addition to the globally threatened Balearic Shearwater (CR), Yelkouan Shearwater (VU) and Audouin's Gull (NT). BirdLife's Spanish partner SEO/BirdLife is a key leader on marine IBA identification, methodology testing and seabird research in Europe and over the period 2004-2009 coordinated a LIFE project named

National priorities
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o Gain effective protection for marine IBAs (e.g. as N2000, but also OSPAR, Barcelona

Government's support/relevant policy
The presentation of the marine IBA inventory in 2009 prompted the start of negotiations between the Spanish Government and the Regional governments towards the extension of the Natura 2000 network towards the marine environment regarding seabird SPAs. The government has begun N2000 designation and this should be complete by 2013 (deadline of new LIFE+ Project INDEMARES). SEO/BirdLife has also taken active part in the elaboration of the Marine Strategies in Spain, elaborating the corresponding background document (environmental assessment and proposal of targets) for seabirds. Please see policy tab for list of agreements that this country is party to.

References
o Arcos, J.M., J. B