American Bird Conservancy - National Audubon Society 1731 Connecticut Avenue, NW 3rd Floor 1150 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 600 Washington, DC 20009 Washington DC 20036 Tel: 202-234-7181 Tel.: 202-861-2242, ext. 3034 Fax: 202-234-7182 Fax: 202-861-4290 www.abcbirds.org www.audubon.org

December 8, 2006

Ambassador David Balton Deputy Assistant Secretary for Oceans and Fisheries Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs US Department of State 2201 C Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20520

Dear Ambassador Balton,

It has been brought to our attention that the United States Departments of State, Interior, and Commerce are currently evaluating the Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels (ACAP) to determine if the US should increase its level of involvement in the Agreement and associated activities by becoming a member country. We were very pleased to hear of this development and hope that as a result of these evaluations, the US will decide to show its commitment to protecting endangered seabird species by signing this important international agreement.

Albatrosses and petrels include some of the most threatened species of birds worldwide. In fact, 19 of 21 species of albatross are currently listed as vulnerable to extinction under international criteria.1 Eight of these albatross species are known to occur on the waters of the United States of America and are protected under the US Migratory Bird Treaty Act2. Albatrosses and petrels have large ranges often spanning the jurisdiction of many different countries3. For example, the Laysan Albatross, a US Fish and Wildlife Service Bird of Conservation Concern, can be found throughout

1 IUCN. 2006. 2006 red list of threatened species. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland. (http://iucnredlist.org/) 2 50 CFR Part 10. Department of Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service, General Provisions; Revised List of Migratory Birds; Proposed Rule. 3 Bird Life International. 2004. Tracking ocean wanderers: the global distribution of albatrosses and petrels. Results from the Global Procellariiform Tracking Workshop, 1-5 September, 2003, Gordon’s Bay, South Africa, Cambridge, UK: BirdlLife International. Deleted: January 25, 2007 Deleted: December 8, 2006 February 7, 2007 the North Pacific using the waters of the US, Canada, Japan, and Mexico. Primary threats to these species include mortality as a result of interactions with fisheries, predation or nest loss as a result of alien species introduced to breeding islands, and exposure to contaminants. ACAP is the foremost international agreement developing collaboration to reduce these threats and ensure the future existence of albatross and petrel species.

ACAP is unique in that it brings together nations who have the power to make policies that will improve the plight of albatrosses and petrels to make real and lasting change. Since it opened for signature in 2001, ACAP has been successful garnering an international commitment to protect albatrosses and petrels. With 11 signatories and 9 ratifying countries, ACAP now serves as a central forum for information exchange, data gathering, and development and implementation of conservation strategies for 28 of the most threatened species of albatrosses and petrels. The primary aim of ACAP is to take actions to improve the conservation status of albatrosses and petrels and the potential impacts of various threats on their populations. ACAP member nations also work to develop effective mitigation measures to cope with these threats and provide a framework for effective implementation of such measures.

The United States has been a leader in the protection of seabirds through reducing seabird bycatch, protecting and restoring breeding sites, and maintaining populations in general. Joining ACAP provides an important opportunity for the US to demonstrate its commitment to seabirds on a global scale and join like-minded nations in seabird conservation efforts which will benefit US species in the many areas where they are at risk outside the US EEZ. The provisions of ACAP are consistent with current US activities, including efforts at home and abroad. Joining ACAP would, therefore, not increase the already heavy workloads of those who focus on seabird conservation and research in the US; rather, ACAP would enable the US to get other parties to undertake complementary work. As a full member of ACAP the US would directly influence priority and policy setting for ACAP and ensure that lessons learned from the efforts already being implemented in our country are adopted and used elsewhere. ACAP meetings are currently attended by US government employees, but their influence at such meetings is limited because the US only has observer status.

ACAP listed species (28 in total) currently include five of the eight albatross species listed as protected under the US Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA)2. Joining ACAP would not only allow the US to show their commitment to protecting populations of albatrosses and petrels on a global scale, but would also allow the US additional capacity to conserve MBTA protected species.

In conclusion, seabird populations are becoming increasingly threatened and populations will continue to decline unless serious global measures are taken. ACAP is playing a critical role as the main international mechanism to facilitate this global approach. If the US is serious about their commitment to seabird conservation, they should demonstrate this by signing ACAP. The US can only benefit from participation in this important international agreement. We urge you to take the steps necessary to ensure that the US sees the value of participating in this multilateral agreement and signs and ratifies ACAP as soon as possible. If you have any questions, regarding this agreement, or seabird conservation issues in general, please feel free to contact Dr. Jennifer Arnold, Seabird Program Director at the American Bird Conservancy, or Dr. Greg Butcher, Director of Bird Conservation, National Audubon Society. Dr. Arnold can be reached at 301-218-6225, or

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[email protected]. Dr. Butcher can be reached at 202-861-2242, ext. 3034, or [email protected].

Sincerely,

______George H. Fenwick, PhD President American Bird Conservancy

______John Flicker President National Audubon Society

American Bird Conservancy is the only 501(c)(3) organization that works solely to conserve native wild Birds and their habitats throughout the Americas. ABC acts to safeguard the rarest bird species, restore habitats, and reduce threats, while building capacity in the conservation movement. ABC is the voice for birds, ensuring that they are adequately protected; that sufficient funding is available for bird conservation; and that land is protected and properly managed to maintain viable habitat. ABC sets the bird conservation agenda by using the best science available to determine the highest priorities and the best solutions, and then communicating these priorities to the conservation community and the public through alliances, partnerships, and networks. ABC counts among its staff some of the foremost experts in bird conservation in the United States, and partners with many others throughout the Americas. ABC is a membership organization that is consistently awarded a top, four-star rating by the independent group, Charity Navigator.

The mission of the National Audubon Society is to conserve and restore natural ecosystems, focusing on birds, other wildlife, and their habitats for the benefit of humanity and the earth's biological diversity. Our national network of community-based nature centers and chapters, scientific and educational programs, and advocacy on behalf of areas sustaining important bird populations, engage millions of people of all ages and backgrounds in positive conservation experiences. Audubon is the partner in the United States of BirdLife International, which includes partners in more than 100 countries around the world. Audubon speaks on behalf of more than one million members and supporters who share our conservation mission.

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