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ACAP is a multilateral agreement which seeks to conserve albatrosses and petrels by coordinating international activity to mitigate known threats to their populations.  ACAP came into force in February 2004 and currently has 13 memeber countries and covers 29 species of albatrosses and petrels.

One activity by ACAP is to increase awareness among the general public of the threats facing the listed species. ACAP Latest News aims to offer a daily news service covering all matters pertaining to the conservation and biology of ACAP-listed albatrosses and petrels and of selected species of threatened shearwaters of the genera Calonectris and Puffinus.  This service extends to covering all scientific publications on ACAP species and shearwaters as they appear, with their abstracts included to allow the reader a quick assessment of their content.  Another recent development is the inclusion of reviews of both scientific and popular books of relevance, as well as of children's books on albatrosses and petrels (click here for an example of a recent book review by nine-year-old Molly Ryan).

In addition occasional news articles look at the roles of albatrosses and petrels in art, poetry and other human endeavours of the spirit (for an example, click here).

A useful service available is the Search box on the home page that can find archived stories back to 2006 on a listed species, breeding site or theme (as well as including documents and information papers submitted to ACAP's various meetings that are available on the web site).  For example, a search on House Mouse gave 32 hits on 21 April, allowing the reader to find out how this somewhat overlooked introduced mammal is affecting albatrosses and petrels and their habitats at some localities.  Similarly, a search on Tristan Albatross yielded 50 hits, which will certainly keep you well informed with what is happening to this Critically Endangered species, including abstracts of and links to all the most recent scientific publications on the bird.

A Tristan Albatross displays on Gough Island.
Photograph by Andrea Angel/Ross Wanless

As well as at www.acap.aq/latest-news/, ACAP news items can be sourced via ACAP's Facebook page.  An advantage is that the Facebook page carries newsworthy stories and the like not carried on the web site.  These include links to YouTube video clips and to on-line newspaper and magazine articles, as well as to stories about albatross and petrels that have appeared on other web sites and Facebook groups.  It also gives the opportunity to like, tag, share and comment on the posted accounts, thus helping spread the conservation message.

As of 22 April ACAP's Facebook page has 377 Friends.  Tell your colleagues - and friends - and let's try to make it over 500 before year-end!

John Cooper. ACAP Information Officer, 27 April 2012