SEACHANGE the Newsletter of the Global Seabird Programme

SEACHANGE The newsletter of the Global Seabird Programme

ISSUE 7 AUGUST 2 011 T M

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F R i g o u y e

( i R r e o d v o i n

T o r t o T i u s i e

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R o y

Upcoming events ( R o v i The fifth International Albatross and Petrel Conference is n g

scheduled to take place on 13 –17 August 2012 at the Museum T o r t

of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa in Wellington, New Zealand. o i s

The organisation of IAPC5 will be led by New Zealand's National e ) Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research. The critically The conference will cover all aspects of albatross and petrel endangered biology, ecology, distributions and tracking, taxonomy and waved albatross human interactions. is the only tropical species, nesting The current contact for the conference is Dr David Thompson exclusively on at [email protected] Española Island in the Galapagos.

Artists aid the ATF

Renowned wildlife artists, John Gale and Chris Rose spent five weeks on South Georgia sketching and painting albatrosses, other seabirds and wildlife. Their work will be displayed in an exhibition at the Air gallery, Dover White-capped albatrosses Street, London, for two weeks commencing 3 October and they are donating 25% of all sales to the Albatross Task Force. In addition to this, exclusive prints are available of John Gale’s ‘Wandering albatross’ and Chris Welcome to the seventh annual edition of Sea Change , We also bring you the latest news from the Albatross Rose’s ‘Storm passing – wandering albatross’. Print sizes the newsletter of BirdLife International’s Global Seabird Task Force, which recently held its biannual workshop in are 320mm x 500mm and the price is £145. Details and Programme (GSP). Next year will mark our 15th Uruguay, as well as news on Marine Important Bird Areas, ‘Storm passing – wandering sales from Evelyn Johnson; [email protected], anniversary. In this time BirdLife’s flagship ‘Save the fisheries certification and seabird tracking. albatross’ by Chris Rose. tel. 01767 693332 or write to her at RSPB, The Lodge, Albatross’ campaign highlights the GSP’s main focus – Sandy, Bedfordshire, SG19 2DL, UK, enclosing your to reverse the decline of this highly threatened group of Writers’ corner has a collection of impressive photographs You can see all of the paintings at www.galleryofbirds.co.uk details and a cheque for £145. seabirds, which continue to suffer substantial mortality from Tui de Roy, alongside her experiences travelling the from longline and other fisheries. Seabirds and the wider globe discovering and reporting on the plight of marine environment face numerous threats, and we are albatrosses worldwide. working hard on many fronts to stem the tide. End notes We’d love to hear your thoughts and comments on Sea The Global Seabird Programme is co-ordinated, on behalf of the BirdLife In this issue we report on a comprehensive review, recently Change and the endeavours of the GSP – together we can International Partnership, by the RSPB (BirdLife Partner in the UK). published by the GSP, which identifies key longline fisheries work towards saving threatened seabirds from extinction! threatening seabird populations and produces the first Programme staff at the RSPB include Euan Dunn (Head of Marine Policy), Cleo Small (Global Seabird Programme Senior Policy global estimate of numbers of birds being killed each year. For more information contact [email protected] Officer), Orea Anderson (Global Seabird Programme Policy Officer) and Ben Sullivan (Global Seabird Programme Co-ordinator). For comments and potential articles feel free to contact Orea Anderson at [email protected]

BirdLife International, Wellbrook Court, Girton Road, Cambridge CB3 0NA, England. Tel: +44 (0)1223 277 318 www.birdlife.org

This newsletter was produced by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), registered charity England and Wales no. 207076, Scotland no. SC037654. 270-0676-10-11 ALBATROSS TASK FORCE EMERGING MITIGATION

ATF Instructors join forces again!

The second Albatross Task Force (ATF) Instructor’s workshop • Bird streamer (tori) lines can be highly effective at was held in Piriápolis, Uruguay. It has been two years since reducing seabird attacks within their aerial extent when the first meeting in Coquimbo and in the intervening time used in combination with line weighting placed close to the ATF team has worked hard to achieve some great results. the hook.

Piriápolis lies close to one of the world’s most active seabird Strong, scientifically-rigorous results are vital to our foraging zones, where converging currents produce upwelling work with fishermen, industry and governments. It allows that attract large numbers of albatrosses and petrels. With us to apply valid pressure for the adoption of best practice large numbers comes the potential for high bycatch – seabird bycatch mitigation measures. The aim is to get including vulnerable wandering albatrosses from South regulations where none exist and strengthen those that Georgia – this focused our minds well on the tasks ahead of us. are in place. The ATF also works to identify fleets where no, or very few, data exist – this allows us to set out In the past two years, the ATF has undertaken a series of priorities on where to achieve the most ‘bang for our research projects to improve seabird bycatch mitigation conservation buck’! measures for longline and trawl fisheries. One of the major results has been to show near-zero seabird bycatch can be The ATF has achieved some really outstanding results achieved through a combination of mitigation measures such in a number of countries. A big part of this has been the as line weights and bird streamer lines. In 2010, zero or near- support we receive from industry, fishermen, BirdLife zero bycatch was recorded by vessels in Argentina, Brazil, Partners, government and other institutions. Namibia and Uruguay, when ATF instructors were onboard. Thanks to this, we can feel proud of making a very real Other key ATF research findings include: difference to the conservation of albatrosses and petrels. • Bird streamer (tori) lines significantly reduce seabird bycatch in demersal trawl fisheries For further information contact [email protected] B e n

‘Hook pod’ in action, showing u l l i plastic pod encasing hook v a n

ATF Instructors Workshop barb, with bait threaded ( R held in Piriápolis, Uruguay. through the hook shank. S P B ) Hook pod trials: an update

As reported in Sea Change last year, us to put the ‘hook pod’ head-to-head the GSP is working with Fishtek with high densities of albatrosses and (www.fishtekmarine.com) to develop petrels for the first time. The new a ‘hook pod’ for pelagic longliners that prototype (weighing 60 g to maximize prevents seabirds from getting caught sink rate) will open at 10 m depth and on baited hooks. The pod is attached has an LED light incorporated in the to the branchline and protects only housing, at the request of several B e

the hook barb. When it reaches a n fishermen. The system has several

pre-set depth it releases and the u advantages; it lessens setting times l l i baited hook falls free and sinks to the v (no light sticks need to be attached), it a n

desired fishing depth. The pod can be reduces marine debris (spent light ( R

set beyond the diving depth of seabird S sticks are often discarded at sea), and is P B

species active in a given area. ) significantly cheaper (many thousands of dollars are spent replacing disposable In November 2010, Ben Sullivan (GSP Close up view of ‘Hook pod’ during light sticks each year). Co-ordinator) and Oli Yates (ATF at-sea trials onboard the Vanessa F a

b Co-ordinator) conducted at-sea trials in Results will be tabled at the sixth i a

n eastern Australia onboard FV Vanessa S easy to deploy with different bait types Advisory Committee meeting of the o

P (Klokan Fishing Ltd). The trials identified and hooking positions, and the crew Agreement on the Conservation of e p

p some problems with the new pressure found it simple to set, retrieve and store. albatrosses and petrels (ACAP) in e

s release mechanism and capsule, but Ecuador in August 2011.

( P

r these issues have been resolved with Later this year we are working with o j e

t further development and testing Projeto Albatroz (ATF partner in Brazil) For further information contact o

A on-shore. In all trials the pod proved on further at-sea trials, which will allow [email protected] l b a t r o z )

BYCATCH POLICY BYCATCH POLICY

A global review of longline seabird bycatch is published

After an exhaustive four year search, a new global estimate The Spanish longline fleet on the Gran Sol grounds off of the impact of longline fisheries on seabirds has recently south-west Ireland is one such fleet, with preliminary data been published in Endangered Species Research . The review suggesting it may be responsible for killing large numbers identified that, despite efforts to reduce seabird mortality, of seabirds, potentially upwards of 50,000 annually, mostly upwards of 300,000 birds are still being killed every year. shearwaters and fulmars. The Japanese tuna fleet came second in scale – over 20,000 killed each year, but with the Since the 1980s, scientists have linked global declines of largest impact on albatrosses. albatrosses and other seabirds with incidental bycatch in longline fisheries. Adult birds become caught on hooks Substantial data gaps remain (e.g. Nordic demersal, Asian attached to the longlines, which can be over 100 kilometres distant water, and Mediterranean fleets) and until these are long, and dragged underwater to a premature death. Dr. Orea filled it is impossible to gauge the true impact of global Anderson said “ It is little wonder that so many of the affected longline activities on seabirds. However, the continued seabird species are threatened with extinction – their slow declining trends in many seabirds remain a major cause rate of reproduction is simply incapable of compensating for for concern. losses on the scale this study has demonstrated ”. BirdLife International’s Global Seabird Programme calls on Some fisheries have enforced strict regulations, resulting regional fisheries management organisations and industry in substantial bycatch reductions in recent years. Seabird to protect seabirds through the use of simple, cost-effective deaths around South Georgia in the CCAMLR zone of the mitigation measures that have been proven to reduce the Southern Ocean have declined by 99% since regulations threat of bycatch. were enforced. South Africa achieved a drop of 85% BirdLife Europe’s petition handover to bycatch in its foreign-licensed fleet in 2008, when a cap The full article can be found at: the Fisheries Commissioner (Left to was placed on the number of seabird deaths permitted. http://www.int-res.com/articles/esr_oa/n014p091.pdf F i l i

Right: Xenophon Kappas, Euan Dunn, p However, fleets with previously unaccounted for bycatch

Nathalie DeSnijder, Sacha Cleminson, e problems have also emerged, adding to the global tally. For further information contact [email protected]

Maria Damanaki, Ariel Brunner). m e t N N e e w w

Z Z e form of a photo-montage of a Cory’s e a a l l a a n

shearwater – a common victim of n d d

Will the EU finally M longlines in the Mediterranean. The M i i n image was a mosaic of 2,300 seabird n i i s s t t r photos and fishing vessels, each ‘pixel’ r y y

o deliver for seabirds? o

representing 10 signatures. Damanaki f f

F F i i s intended to put the picture on her office s h h e e

In 2008 I reported that the European in various European ports, but also wall, saying “ I’m going to do something r r i i e e s Commission was assessing the extensively on BirdLife data. about this ”. s evidence needed to develop an EU Plan of Action for reducing incidental Concerned by the endless delays, We will be watching closely for a bycatch of seabirds, with a view to a BirdLife Europe collected 23,000 strong follow-through, given the plan by 2009. The initiative at that signatures (the majority gathered by the Commission’s latest timeline is to time applied only to fishing in EU UK partner, RSPB) demanding an urgent propose a plan that addressed both waters, not to external waters where and robust plan to address the EU and external waters by the end EU-flagged vessels, notably Spain, unacceptable toll (estimated at 200,000 of 2011 – ten years after they first contribute to the bycatch of globally birds a year in EU waters alone) on mooted one. In parallel, we are threatened albatrosses. birds by EU fishing gears. This includes looking to the Commission to present around 100,000 birds drowned annually an ambitious proposal for reform of BirdLife presented the Commission with in Baltic Sea gill-nets, and 50,000 birds the EU Common Fisheries Policy in a ‘shadow plan’ reflecting our priorities (including 40,000 great shearwaters) July 2011, which not only embraces based on the new FAO Best Practice killed by the Galician demersal longline an ecosystem-based approach to Technical Guidelines. The Commission fishery for hake on the Gran Sol fisheries management, but which then issued its own plan framework, grounds off south-west Ireland. also mitigates against the needless which was subjected to cost-benefit impacts on seabirds. Removing a longline hook from an analysis by the Marine Resources In June 2010 a delegation from BirdLife albatross caught as lines are hauled Assessment Group (MRAG), drawing on presented EU Fisheries Commissioner For more information contact aboard – sadly this bird can be questionnaire interviews with fishermen Maria Damanaki with the petition in the [email protected] considered one of the lucky ones! MARINE IBAS MARINE IBAS

Foraging ranges of seabirds or groups of seabirds plotted as radii around island IBAs designated for breeding seabirds. Marine Important Bird Areas ‘Seabirds’ include petrels and albatrosses, storm petrels, gannets and boobies, penguins, tropicbirds and frigatebirds. Programme continues apace

BirdLife’s Marine Important Bird Areas You can view and edit these at: Advances have been made through the (IBA) Programme continues to advance, www.seabird.wikispaces.com Convention on Biological Diversity and will culminate in the first global (Bonn Convention) process to identify inventory of marine IBAs to be Pelagic IBAs are now being identified Ecologically and Biologically Significant launched in 2012. On land, 1,600 using data from the Global Areas (EBSAs) via our work with the seabird breeding sites have now been Procellariiform Tracking Database Global Ocean Biodiversity Initiative identified as IBAs, though a few gaps (www.seabirdtracking.org). Such (www.gobi.org). remain in South America, Arctic Russia, complex analysis allows us to identify South East Asia and West Africa. oceanic areas used most frequently by By working closely with GSP Regional large numbers of seabirds and assess Co-ordinators and BirdLife Partners we BirdLife’s Seabird Foraging Range sites that may qualify as marine IBAs. hope to identify more sites this year Database, used to guide the and to engage further with relevant identification of seaward extension Once we have identified all sites it is policy mechanisms to enhance the IBAs around breeding colonies, now crucial to ensure management and protection and appropriate includes more species. Foraging protection of these sites is improved. management of the most important factsheets have been made for ~40 BirdLife is working to ensure marine sites for seabirds around the globe. species – giving guidance and IBAs are recognised and considered B

justification on how seaward priority sites for conservation among For further information contact e n

extensions might be identified. relevant global and regional policies. [email protected] L a s c e l l e s

(

Marine IBA work around the Birdlife Partnership in 2011. B i r d L i f e ) Important Bird Areas and Australian Islands

Many of Australia’s nearshore islands support large Birds Australia and BirdLife International can aid decision- concentrations of nesting seabirds, especially in the Great making on the protection and management of these sites at Barrier Reef, Western Australia and around Tasmania. both a national and international level. Offshore islands, like Christmas, Heard and McDonald, Macquarie, Lord Howe, Norfolk and Philip Islands are also For further information contact [email protected] extremely important as they support very large numbers of threatened and widespread species. Map taken from Dutson, G., Garnett, S. & Gole, C. (2009). Australia’s Important Bird Areas: Key sites for bird conservation. Birds Australia Birds Australia, BirdLife’s Australian partner, has worked to (RAOU) Conservation Statement No. 15, Oct. 2009. designate IBAs across all Australian jurisdictions, though

most are in fragmented landscapes, coasts and islands. Of B e n

the 314 Australian IBAs almost one third (95) are wholly or L a

partly islands and, of these, 91 have seabirds as a trigger s c e B l

species. Island IBAs range in size from less than one hectare l e e n s

to 783,781 hectares, although only three IBAs are greater ( L B a i s than 100,000 hectares in size. Providence petrel r c d e L l i

l (Pterodroma solandri) f e e s )

( Such Island IBAs can focus conservation efforts and lead to is an endemic breeder B i r the protection of globally significant populations of to Australian Islands. It d L i

f threatened birds. In Australia, the IBA project offers is listed as vulnerable e KEY ) opportunities to engage volunteers in monitoring and to extinction as it is conservation, as well as promoting local stewardship and only known to breed Areas where marine IBA Areas where work Areas wishing to engage in marine IBAs and with the advocacy. By working with a range of stakeholders and at two sites, both of work is complete or ongoing. is planned for 2011. possibility of linking to a relevant policy mechanism. collecting and analysing data on the status of island IBAs, which qualify as IBAs. MARINE IBAS OUTREACH AND EVENTS Y o s h i h a r u

S u z u k i

( D e e p

I n ) O O s s k k a a r r

K K i i h h l l b b o o r r g g

( ( V V o o l l v v o o

O O c c e e a a n Volvo Ocean Race participants n

R R a with a very large albatross! a c c e e ) )

‘Wisdom’ in port to raise children’s Renewed collaboration understanding of the threats with Volvo Ocean Race to seabirds. VOR offers a great opportunity to raise The ‘Save the Albatross’ campaign Force (ATF) – Cape Town, South the profile of the ‘Save the Albatross’ has received confirmation of renewed Africa and Itajaí, Brazil. campaign as it has historically Japanese murrelet support from the Volvo Ocean Race achieved widespread media coverage, (Synthliboramphus wumizusume). (VOR) throughout their worldwide VOR is currently making a human- reaching millions of people throughout events this year. We will be working sized mascot for the race. ‘Wisdom’ the world. We are grateful to VOR for closely with VOR to raise awareness the albatross, is based on the oldest this opportunity and look forward to of the plight of albatrosses over the known wild bird in US history. She is a reporting on the success of the course of the race, which starts in 60 year old Laysan albatross, who lives partnership in raising awareness and Alicante, Spain in September 2011 and on Midway Atoll National Wildlife funds for seabird conservation. Asian IBAs workshop outcomes finishes in Galway, Ireland in July Refuge, Hawaii. First tagged in the 2012. The race will pass through two 1950s, she has raised 35 chicks in her For further information contact BirdLife International began Protection Areas and set a target of identify Japanese marine IBAs, in the home ports of the Albatross Task lifetime! BirdLife Partners will use [email protected] identifying marine IBAs in Asia in 2020, as this had previously been a hope that these will act as a key 2010, with support from the Keidanren goal for 2012. Marine IBAs are now reference for the designation of EBSAs Nature Conservation Fund (KNCF). considered one of the most powerful and MPAs in the region. After the first Asian Marine IBA tools to designate Ecologically and workshop in April 2010, Wild Bird Biologically Significant Areas (EBSAs). For further information contact BirdLife Society of Japan (WBSJ) and BirdLife WBSJ and BirdLife will continue to [email protected] launched a marine IBA identification Success at the M tool kit for Japan – paving the way for M a a y other countries in Asia. y World Seabird u u m Preliminary results from BirdLife’s m M M i i

S S a a a identification of marine IBAs were a r Preliminary results from the identification of marine IBAs were Conference r t t k k o o

T T

presented at CBD COP10 organised

presented at CBD COP10 organised (

Japanese marine IBA identification ( a a B B s s i i k k r were presented at a KNCF side event by the KNCF (Left: Yutaka r The last publication of Sea Change The judging panel for student presentation awards. (Left to Right: Flavio Quintana, Lisa d e e d r r l l i i

f f ( Yamamoto; Middle: Mayumi O''Neill, Nicholas Carlile, Gail Davoren, Mark Tasker, Sophy Allen, Tom Van Pelt, Pablo (

to the CBD CoP10 in Nagoya. Yutaka e coincided with the first World Seabird e J J

N N A A C Yamamoto (WBSJ), Mayumi Sato Sato; Right: Ben Lascelles). Conference (WSC), held in September Yorio and Pep Arcos (missing were Julia Parrish, Matt Rayner and Ross Wanless). C s s i C C i a a ) ) ) (GSP Regional Co-ordinator) and ) 2010 in Victoria, Canada. This was the Ben Lascelles (GSP Marine IBAs largest event ever held on marine Co-ordinator) gave talks on four birds. Over 800 participants from 40 species of seabirds – Roseate tern, countries gave 700 oral and poster workshops, on ‘Spatial Ecology’, ‘World conference was the establishment of black-naped tern, rhinoceros auklet presentations covering all aspects Seabird Colony Registers’ and ‘Seabird the World Seabird Union; a body to and Japanese murrelet. of seabird science and conservation. Remote Tracking and Databases’. plan future conferences, develop www.seabirds.net (a tool to aid After the talks, various strategies on BirdLife was integral to the The conference was an outstanding collaboration among seabird the conservation and sustainable use programme, with 25 representatives success, providing an unrivalled review researchers), and facilitate global and of marine and coastal biodiversity from 11 BirdLife Partners contributing of all current and prospective research regional seabird database development. were discussed. CBD CoP10 reaffirmed 30 presentations. BirdLife played a on seabirds, with a particular focus on the need to establish 10% of the lead role in two of the four main management and conservation. One of For further information contact marine environment as Marine symposia, and co-organised three the most immediate outputs from the [email protected] OUTREACH AND EVENTS PARTNER NEWS P h i l

T a y

l set up for the Ecuadorian fishery – the o r

( faster the line sinks the harder it is for B i

r The Albatross Task d birds to access baited hooks. L i f e ) Information provided to the Force in Ecuador Ecuadorian government by the ATF is currently being assessed and we are The Albatross Task Force began hopeful they will come out strongly in work in Ecuador in November 2008. support of the ATF’s findings, and take Ecuador is an important site for steps to introduce seabird bycatch albatrosses such as the critically mitigation requirements for the endangered waved albatross, which artisanal and industrial fleets.

nests on the Galapagos Archipelago, e

as well as for a variety of New Zealand y The ATF made real progress in 2010,

species that use Ecuadorian shelf a with the training of all fisheries

waters for foraging. The main a observers in seabird bycatch

objectives of the ATF in Ecuador, as ( mitigation and building support and

elsewhere, are to identify fisheries F participation of the artisanal fleet in

Latest information on seabird where albatrosses and petrels bycatch c Santa Rosa.

tracking data taken from occurs, record levels of bycatch, and d

BirdLife’s Global Procellariiform identify and implement effective ) Work is now underway to quantify Tracking Database. Maps of mitigation measures. albatross bycatch in the rainy and hot individual tracks are available Waved albatrosses and Lesser seasons (Dec –May); to analyse the from www.seabirdtracking.org Workshops for fisheries observers frigatebirds congregating around an impact of other longline fisheries in began in 2009 –10. The ATF supports artisanal longline vessel off Ecuador. Ecuador; and to set limits for bycatch four seabird-trained fisheries (with particular emphasis on the observers, who monitor the fisheries, information, the Ministry of waved albatross populations in the and implement mitigation research Environment has pledged to support Galapagos). Finally, the ATF intends to experiments. Since August 2010, the the objectives of the ATF in reducing support the effective implementation team has worked directly with the hake seabird mortality. of the ACAP Plan of Action Peru- demersal longline fishery in Santa Ecuador that was recently adopted. Rosa. High levels of seabird Since January 2011, with the support of Co-ordination of tracking data interaction were observed in the 49 ACAP, the ATF has begun experiments For further information contact trips conducted. On receiving this to determine an effective line weighting [email protected] R steps up a gear after WSC R i i c c h h a a r r d Advances in technology mean we are Procellariiform Tracking Database decision was made to focus on d

M M u now able to track ever smaller species (GPTD), Tracking of Pacific Predators developing interoperability between u r r i i l l l l

of seabirds. WSC brought scientists, (TOPP) database, OBIS-SEAMAP existing databases so that tools, o o

( ( A data owners and users together to and Movebank. Existing database functionality, and ultimately data can be A T T F F

understand how different databases functionality and the future needs of the shared with ease between them all – E E c c u could facilitate their needs. tracking community were discussed and perhaps not as easy as it sounds! u a a d d o

it was concluded that a single, central o r r ) The workshop was co-ordinated by database was not the best solution to OBIS-SEAMAP, Movebank and BirdLife ) representatives from BirdLife’s Global tracking data storage. Instead the are currently developing systems to share meta-data on the seabird tracking data they host, so that users can search each website and be directed to the Light-mantled sooty data, regardless of where it is hosted. albatross with a Following this, the group aim to satellite tracking device integrate the analysis of Movebank, the visible on its back. visualisation of OBIS-SEAMAP and the ownership structure of BirdLife’s databases. However, significant system )

a integration issues must be overcome c i r f before this can become a reality. A h t u

o BirdLife’s Global Procellariiform S

e Tracking Database can be found at: f i L www.seabirdtracking.org d r i B ( s

s For further information contact Hooked waved albatross in Ecuadorian artisanal e l n [email protected] longline fishery. This bird was released alive. a W s s o R PARTNER NEWS PARTNER NEWS

Seabirds congregating Members of the ISSUE around the back of a hake Indonesian team undertaking a seabird trawler off South Africa. survey off the coast around seabird survey the Sunda Straits and Java of West Java Sea, Indonesia.

In September 2009, the Indonesian Seabird Survey (ISSUE) monitored seabirds in the Tanjung Lesung, Panaitan, and Krakatau regions of West

Java. To date, few seabird studies have i R n o o

s been conducted in these regions. A N s

a W

two-day boat survey observed 50 c s a i n common terns, 34 Christmas Island s l n e a s r

s frigatebirds, nine Swinhoe’s storm- F

( B petrels, a streaked shearwater, a lesser i r d

L frigatebird, 20 bridled terns, and four i f e

lesser crested terns. streaked shearwaters, ca. two common This type of survey data can be S o

u terns, and 20 lesser crested terns. used to raise the profile of seabird t h

In August 2010, a second two-day conservation in Indonesia. To do A f

r survey went from Tanjung Lesung to An important outcome from this study this, and achieve effective seabird i c a

) Ujung Kulon, Panaitan and Tanjung is the recording of relatively large conservation in the region, it is China, and included a brief sojourn numbers of the critically endangered important to work with local into the Indian Ocean. The survey Christmas Island frigatebird, which are stakeholders, to ultimately identify and companies provide open access to reported 35 Christmas Island threatened on their breeding grounds conserve important areas for seabirds vessels so the ATF can assess seabird frigatebirds, two Bulwer’s petrels, a by the introduced yellow crazy ant. It is in Indonesian waters. MSC recognise bycatch annually. Companies are also lesser frigatebird, three Wilson’s estimated that the population will generally willing to accommodate storm-petrels, six wedge-tailed decline by 80% in the next 30 years For more information contact experimental research to improve shearwaters, 120 bridled terns, 50 because of predation of young. [email protected] sustainability effort bycatch mitigation measures. When

the ATF are onboard we educate E l l i fishermen about the benefits of saving e

in South African albatrosses. We have also been invited w e n

to participate in scientific working s Future of the Atlantic

( groups to discuss and implement R S

hake fishery P

best practice mitigation that can be B Marine Environment effectively applied through inclusion ) The Marine Stewardship Council a dedicated seabird observer to assess in permit conditions. This has been an An exciting project is underway with ambitious aims to (MSC) is a global organisation that seabird bycatch and come up with integral part of the process, allowing monitor and track seabirds across the western seaboard of aims to reward sustainable fishing practical solutions over a two-year us to move from the more investigative Europe. FAME (Future of the Atlantic Marine Environment) is practices through fisheries period. From 2006 onwards, ongoing aspects of seabird bycatch mitigation a project which is funded by the European Union Regional certification. There are currently 106 assessment, monitoring and into tangible results – reducing the Development Fund through its Atlantic Area programme and MSC certified fisheries worldwide. improvements have been conducted number of birds being caught in South takes in seven partners across five countries – RSPB in the UK, and funded exclusively by the Africa! The fishery has now been Birdwatch Ireland, the BirdLife Partners in France (LPO), Spain In April 2004 the South African hake Albatross Task Force (ATF). recertified for 2010 –15. (SEO) and Portugal (SPEA) and the University of Minho and trawl fishery became the first African WavEC (an offshore renewable energy developer) in Portugal. fishery to meet MSC standards. Hake The certification of this fishery created Although the process has not been By working together we share skills and ensure best use of the is the most valuable fish resource in incentives for more open dialogue without its hiccups, putting in the hard data. Data are collected through various means, from standard South Africa, with exports going between conservation organisations work has won the ATF respect across colony monitoring, beached bird surveys and boat or plane mainly to Europe. and the fishing industry. The ATF in the board. Soon we will announce surveys, to high resolution tracking using the latest technology. South Africa is consequently involved results in the form of major Piece by piece we are gaining a better understanding of key Seabird bycatch was identified as at all levels of the fishery, from the improvements in albatross bycatch seabird foraging areas and what habitat characteristics make a potential problem and the first fishermen to industry managers and rates, and are working with a very Two kittiwakes wearing them so special. This information will be vital to current certification period (2004 –09) required government departments. Fishing co-operative industry to shut down GPS tags. These tags use discussions on how our marine areas should be managed. the few remaining issues. the same technology as This includes planning for nature conservation areas at sea that found in car sat-nav and large-scale offshore developments such as wind and wave Juvenile wandering albatross, For more information contact systems. Every 100 seconds energy generation. It is a mammoth effort but the data we are with South African hake [email protected] or visit the bird’s location is getting makes it all worthwhile. Already the perceived wisdom ) ) trawler in the background. www.msc.org recorded to an accuracy of of where our seabirds travel to feed is being challenged, and a a c c i i between 5 –15 m, which with each insight opportunities arise to better protect our most r r f f A A

Note: BirdLife International has makes the information environmentally salient areas.

h h t t s s u u s s been a registered supporter of the particularly suitable for e e o o l l S S n n

MSC since 1998. identifying foraging areas. For more information contact [email protected] a a e e f f i i W W

L s s d d s r s r i i o o B B R ( ( R WRITERS’ CORNER WRITERS’ CORNER T T T u u u i i i

d d d e e e

R R R o o

Together, my co-author Mark Jones and the South Atlantic. Here I met the o y y y

( ( I invested all we had in a sturdy 43 ft critically endangered Tristan albatross, ( R R R o o o v v sailboat, which we outfitted for the whose survival is threatened by v i i i n n n g g rigours of the Southern Ocean. Over five introduced mice, along with the elegant On the luxuriant, fern-covered g

T T T o o years we took Mahalia on seven long Atlantic yellow-nosed and enigmatic slopes of Gough Island in the o r r r t t t o o o

i trips, totalling nine months at sea, sooty albatrosses. South Atlantic, a pair of Atlantic i i s s s e e e ) ) visiting all major albatross islands in the yellow-nosed albatross reunite ) New Zealand sub-Antarctic region, My dream came true. In recent years in early spring. where over half the world’s species there are encouraging signs that A personal quest nest. Some of these islands have seen increased public awareness, and less pairs of human feet than the especially the hard work of the by Tui de Roy summit of Mount Everest! Albatross Task Force is beginning to turn the tide of destruction, with several I was also able to spend time on albatross populations reversing their Midway Atoll in the far north-eastern declines toward a healthier future. I’d Hawaiian Chain, where I photographed like to think I added my little grain of all three northern hemisphere sand to the pyramid of knowledge and albatrosses, and on Tristan da Cunha conscience needed to curb our ways,

I will never forget my first meeting with T photographer, I met other species in far and Gough Islands in the middle of and respect their ways. u i

an albatross. I was 15, a bit late in life d more remote locations. On Diego e

considering that I spent my childhood R Ramirez, south of Cape Horn, I met Reviews of Albatrosses – their world, their way can be found at: o

living only 50 nautical miles from y my first grey-headed albatross –a http://www.marineornithology.org/PDF/38_2/38_2_137-139.pdf

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Española Island in the Galapagos, o stunningly beautiful bird. On

v Dedicated and autographed author’s copies may be mail-ordered from i where virtually the entire world n Beauchène, a lone southern outpost of g [email protected] or by visiting the website at http://www.tuideroy.com

population of waved albatross come T the Falklands/Malvinas, I camped at the o r t

to nest. I remember looking into those o edge of an enormous black-browed i s

deep, limpid eyes elegantly shaded by e albatross colony spreading 140,000- ) snow-white parasol eyebrows – nests strong. Spellbound, I watched the Returning from its ocean wanderings, a Campbell albatross announces appropriate light-shields under the aerial ballet of courting light-mantled its landing with a loud scream on Campbell Island in the New Zealand equatorial sun – and being profoundly albatross pairs tracing graceful Subantarctic, the only island where this species nests. moved. There was a powerful presence pirouettes against the stormy skies of in those eyes – looking at me calmly South Georgia, and was drawn by their and with interest. eerie calls to another intimate encounter on a high crag. My first view of the The waved albatross is the only tropical mythical wandering albatross came to albatross, and probably the most range- After a long sub-Antarctic sailing me like a divine apparition between the restricted of all 22 species, never expedition, Tui de Roy enjoys returning giant swells of the Drake Passage while straying far from the cool upwellings of to the milder climate of New Zealand, heading for Antarctica: a symphony of the far eastern Pacific. As I began to riding the bowsprit of Mahalia, a 43 ft motion, white on grey, gliding past in travel to the frozen south in pursuit of cutter she and co-author Mark Jones defiance of gravity. my budding career as a wildlife outfitted for Southern Ocean sailing. When the dire plight of albatrosses emerged in the 1980 –90s, my passion for these – the most endangered group Little is known about the light- of birds in the world – turned into an mantled albatross, whose breeding obsession: I would apply my attempts may be spaced 2 –4 years professional skills as a photographer apart, here on a secluded cliff-edge and writer to help make the world a of sub-Antarctic Campbell Island, little safer for them. I would enlist south of New Zealand. friends, researchers and conservationists to contribute their knowledge to produce an in-depth, lavishly-illustrated book to highlight their plight and save them from extinction. Thus was born Albatrosses – their world, their way . My hope is that this book can become a powerful tool T for spreading the word of BirdLife’s T u u i i

‘Save the Albatross’ campaign. d e e

R R o o y But without financial backing, the most y

( ( R R o formidable challenge initially was how o v v i i n to spend sufficient time in prime n g g

T albatross locations to get the photos! T o o r r t t o o i i s s e e ) )