Greater global effort needed to protect Southern Ocean seabirds
30 Oct 2007
WWF will host a lunchtime seminar at Hadley's Hotel, Hobart, today to focus attention on the need for greater international efforts to protect albatross and other Southern Ocean seabirds from the threats of fishing and introduced species.
The seminar, which profiles active field programmes for seabird protection, is taking place as representatives from 26 nations meet in Hobart as part of the 26th gathering of the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR).
Twenty three of the world's 24 albatross species are now threatened with extinction. The global expansion of longline and trawl fisheries is the biggest cause of albatross mortality, followed by the threat to nests, eggs and chicks from introduced species such as rabbits, rats and mice.
Within the CCAMLR region, bycatch from regulated longline fishing operations during the 2005-2006 fishing season was reduced to nearly zero thanks to strong measures introduced by the Commission, including line weighting, night setting, nil offal discharge and other measures.
But many thousands of Southern Ocean seabirds are still killed every year as bycatch in trawl fisheries, through illegal and unregulated operations (IUU), and longlining beyond the CCAMLR region.
"CCAMLR has done a remarkable job reducing the incidence of seabird mortality from regulated longline fishing operations within its jurisdiction but we urgently need stronger measures and greater effort to reduce seabird bycatch from both trawling operations in the Southern Ocean and longlining beyond the CCAMLR region," said Constance Johnson, Leader of WWF-Australia's Antarctica and Southern Oceans Initiative.
"It is critical that CCAMLR members and parties urgently implement measures within their national waters as well as on all vessels flying their flag and fishing in waters where albatrosses and petrels forage for food."
In addition, these same birds are threatened by introduced species. For example, on Macquarie Island, the only known nesting site in Australia for the grey-headed albatross, important habitat has been trashed by a rabbit plague that has destroyed the distinctive tussock grasses that the albatross need for nesting.
Earlier this year, the Australian and Tasmanian governments committed to fund a $24.6 million pest eradication program to rid Australia's Macquarie Island of rabbits, rats and mice.
WWF is urging other countries with important seabird breeding islands to also invest sufficiently to remove this important threat of invasive species.
"The recent success and continuing efforts to reduce bycatch of albatrosses and other seabirds will be undermined if other threats such as invasive species at breeding sites are not addressed as a matter of urgency," Ms Johnson said.
More information
Constance Johnson, Antarctica and Southern Oceans Initiative, WWF-Australia
Phone: 0421 328 448
Notes
WWF is a founding member and sponsor of Southern Seabird Solutions which promotes the adoption of fishing practices in the southern hemisphere that avoid seabird mortality. Formed in 2002, Southern Seabird Solutions is an incorporated trust with a wide-ranging membership concerned with mitigating the effects of fishing on seabirds, both internationally and in New Zealand where SSS is based. SSS undertakes projects that facilitate the transfer or knowledge, technology, and skills between fishers, using good role models to pass on knowledge and ideas and to promote good fishing practice.
A major threat to the survival of the grey-headed albatross was reduced in 2007 when, following WWF-Australia's advocacy, the Tasmanian Government and Australian governments committed to fully fund a $24.6 million plan to eradicate rabbits, rats and mice on Macquarie Island. The decision means that WWF-Australia and Peregrine Adventures can now invest $100,000 pledged for vital infrastructure that will be shipped to Macquarie Island to assist in the eradication effort.
WWF's International Smart Gear Competition, first held in 2005, brings together the fishing industry, research institutes, universities and government to inspire and reward practical, innovative, cost-effective fishing gear designs that reduce bycatch – the accidental catch and related deaths of seabirds, turtles, marine mammals, and non-target fish species in fishing gear such as longlines and nets.
