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On 16 January 2009, the U.S. Departments of Commerce and Interior jointly forwarded to the U.S. Congress proposed legislation to implement the Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels. The legislation, entitled the "Albatross and Petrel Conservation Act of 2009," follows up on the 26 September 2008 transmittal by President George W. Bush of ACAP to the U.S. Senate recommending that it gives early and favourable consideration to the Agreement and gives its advice and consent to U.S. accession.

The U.S.A. participated actively in the negotiation of ACAP due to its interest in seabird conservation in general and its status as a "Range State" for several of the listed species, and has participated as an active observer at ACAP meetings since the Agreement entered into force.

In October 2007 President Bush directed Federal Agencies to increase U.S. involvement in ACAP, setting in motion the Administration's efforts to join the Agreement.

Go to http://www.gc.noaa.gov/gcil_seabirds.html for more news, including a PDF of the U.S.A.’s draft act. Also see earlier news items on the U.S.A.’s intention to accede to ACAP at: http://www.acap.aq/en/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=116&Itemid=28 and on the proposal to list the three North Pacific Albatrosses in the Agreement at: http://www.acap.aq/en/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=203&Itemid=28

News from John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, posted 27 March 2009