The survival chances of the albatross, now officially the most threatened seabird family in the world, have been improved following a new report released by WWF-South Africa. At least 28 species of albatross and petrel have been caught by South African fisheries, of which 13 are threatened with extinction. The birds are caught trying to retrieve bait from longline fishing hooks, or are injured or killed during trawling operations. A deterioration of their breeding habitats and targeted hunting operations are other factors.
The survival chances of the albatross, now officially the most
threatened seabird family in the world, have been improved following a
new report released by WWF-South Africa.
At least 28 species of albatross and petrel have been caught by South
African fisheries, of which 13 are threatened with extinction. The
birds are caught trying to retrieve bait from longline fishing hooks,
or are injured or killed during trawling operations. A deterioration of
their breeding habitats and targeted hunting operations are other
factors.
Samantha Petersen, manager of the WWF-South Africa Responsible
Fisheries Programme, said that the report - “Understanding and
Mitigating Vulnerable Bycatch in Southern African Trawl and Longline
Fisheries†- improved substantially the understanding of the
circumstances under which seabirds were killed.
“The findings help accurately identify management measures to reduce
the wasteful killing of these magnificent birds while not unnecessarily
disrupting fishing activities or impacting other vulnerable marine life
like turtles and sharks,†said Dr Petersen.
The report, which follows WWF’s release of the results of four years of
groundbreaking longline marine turtle bycatch data in Latin America,
reinforces the need for fishermen to implement the mandatory and
readily available measures that help prevent birds from becoming
entangled in fishing gear.
“While this information is valuable, it’s crucial that it translates
into compliance with mitigation measures on the part of fishing
operations,†added Dr Petersen.
The report says that bird-scaring lines have proved to be simple yet
effective way of preventing seabirds from being snagged during longline
fishing, and similar measures have helped limit the impact of other
fishing techniques.
The report also for the first time describes the movements of two of
the most common species, Black-browed and White-capped Albatrosses, in
South African waters and provides insights into how they are using the
waters and how much they are dependent on fishery discards.
“This has management implications for seabirds because of the dramatic
changes in marine ecosystems as a result of past fishing activities,â€
said Dr Pederesen. “The possibility exists that management actions
could place a further burden on these species.
“Albatrosses and petrels undertake amazing journeys where many species
frequently circumnavigate the globe crossing many national and
international jurisdictions as well as coming across numerous fishing
fleets from various nations.
“The health of our oceans can in many ways be judged by the health of
our seabirds. Only together can we have any hope of saving these birds
from extinction and protect our oceans.â€
The report also informed the Agreement for the Conservation of
Albatrosses and Petrels (ACAP) working parties which met in South
Africa last week. The 12 countries signatory to this convention,
observers and NGOs including WWF have started discussions on how
nations can collaborate on the international problem.
