The conservation of migratory marine species, including pelagic seabirds, is challenging because their movements span vast distances frequently beyond national jurisdictions. Here, we aim to identify important aggregations of seabirds in the North Atlantic to inform ongoing regional conservation efforts. Using tracking, phenology, and population data, we mapped the abundance and diversity of 21 seabird species. This revealed a major hotspot associated with a discrete area of the subpolar frontal zone, used annually by 2.9–5 million seabirds from ≥56 colonies in the Atlantic: the first time this magnitude of seabird concentrations has been documented in the high seas. The hotspot is temporally stable and amenable to site-based conservation and is under consideration as a marine protected area by the OSPAR Commission. Protection could help mitigate current and future threats facing species in the area. Overall, our approach provides an exemplar data-driven pathway for future conservation efforts on the high seas.

中文翻译：

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多物种追踪揭示了北大西洋的一个主要海鸟热点

包括远洋海鸟在内的迁徙海洋物种的保护具有挑战性，因为它们的迁徙距离经常超出国家管辖范围。在这里，我们的目标是确定北大西洋海鸟的重要聚集地，为正在进行的区域保护工作提供信息。使用跟踪、物候学和种群数据，我们绘制了 21 种海鸟物种的丰度和多样性。这揭示了一个与副极地锋区离散区域相关的主要热点，每年有来自大西洋 ≥ 56 个殖民地的 29-50 万只海鸟使用：这是第一次在公海记录到如此大规模的海鸟聚集。该热点在时间上是稳定的，适合进行基于现场的保护，并被 OSPAR 委员会考虑为海洋保护区。保护可以帮助减轻该地区物种当前和未来面临的威胁。总的来说，我们的方法为未来公海保护工作提供了一个典型的数据驱动途径。