ACAP Latest News

Today is the second peak day celebration of World Migratory Bird Day for 2026 (WMBD2026) with the theme “Every Bird Counts – Your Observations Matter!”.  The first peak day for WMBD is celebrated in May. The observance of two celebratory days for WMBD reflects the seasonal nature of bird migration and differing migration patterns between the northern and southern hemispheres.

WMBD is organised through a partnership between the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), the African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbird Agreement (AEWA), the non-profit organization, Environment for the Americas (EFTA) and the East Asian-Australasian Flyway Partnership (EAAFP).

“This year's campaign highlights the vital role of community science (also referred to as citizen science) in the conservation of migratory birds. Around the world, millions of people contribute valuable observations that help track migration patterns, monitor population trends, identify threats and inform conservation action and policy. The campaign also coincides with the 60th anniversary of the International Waterbird Census (IWC), highlighting six decades of volunteer-based waterbird monitoring and its contribution to bird conservation worldwide. Together with campaign partners, the East Asian-Australasian Flyway Partnership (EAAFP) and Environment for the Americas (EFTA), the CMS and AEWA Secretariats encourage Parties, partners and stakeholders to use World Migratory Bird Day as an opportunity to raise awareness of migratory birds and the importance of their conservation at the national, regional and international levels.”

This year the campaign also coincides with the 60th Anniversary of the International Waterbird Census (IWC) of Wetlands International, highlighting six decades of volunteer-based waterbird monitoring and its contribution to bird conservation worldwide.

To mark WMBD026, BirdLife International has produced Global Flyways, a new digital series filmed across five continents “that brings together scientists, conservationists, communities, organisations and local voices to reveal the global effort to protect migratory birds.”

John Cooper, Emeritus Information Officer, Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels, 10 October 2026

Hazmatted up!  A Shy Albatross receives the H5 bird flu vaccine on Albatross Island, October 2026, photograph from the Tasmanian Department of Natural Resources and Environment

The Tasmanian Department of Natural Resources and Environment (NRE Tas) has begun a vaccination programme against Highly Pathogenetic Avian Influenza (HPAI bird flu) for the globally Near Threatened Shy Albatross Thalassarche cauta.  The ACAP-listed albatross is an Australian endemic, only breeding on three small offshore islands around Tasmania.  The first doses of the vaccine were administered in the last few days on 18-ha Albatross Island, a Tasmanian State Nature Reserve in the Bass Strait.

Shy Albatrosses converse on Albatross Island, photograph by Rachael Alderman

The NRE Tas writes:

“The species is considered highly vulnerable to H5 bird flu under state and national risk assessments.  While there have been no signs of the disease in breeding colonies to date, the vaccination program will assess how the birds respond to the vaccine and whether it could play a role in protecting the species from the impacts of bird flu.

“The shy albatross provides a unique opportunity to assess the benefits and potential impacts of vaccination in a wild bird species.  The birds can be safely approached while nesting, which means seabird biologists can deliver the two vaccine doses needed and monitor individual birds, something that is not possible for many species.

“Up to 100 birds on Albatross Island, a small and exposed island in western Bass Strait, will be vaccinated as part of the program.  This is an ambitious target and will depend on weather, access conditions and the ability to safely administer two vaccine doses while minimising disturbance to breeding birds.

“The proposal underwent a rigorous assessment process, including approval from the state Animal Ethics Committee.  Vaccinations are being carried out by wildlife veterinarians and biologists under strict permit conditions and biosecurity protocols.

Department seabird biologists will closely monitor vaccinated birds using remote cameras and follow-up visits to better understand how the birds respond to the vaccine.

“The program is part of Tasmania's broader preparedness efforts for H5 bird flu. Species-specific guidance has also been developed to support planning and response actions. Read about these on our Bird Flu and Wildlife page.”

HPAI has already reached the Australian mainland, with giant petrels Macronectes sp. being among the birds affected, with the first records from June this year, with at least 17 reported by August.  By 08 October 49 HPAI cases have been reported from Tasmania.

Information from Sheryl Hamilton, Wildlife Biologist, Marine Conservation Program (Wildlife Health and Marine), Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Tasmania.

Reference:

[Marine Conservation Program] August 2026.  Shy Albatross, H5 Bird Flu Species Plan – Preparedness, Evidence and Management Options Review.  [Hobart]: Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania.  13 pp.

John Cooper, Emeritus Information Officer, Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels, 09 October 2026

Chatham Albatross photograph by Ross Wheeler

A new major collaborative assessment of seabird interactions with pelagic longline fisheries helps address longstanding information gaps and provides fisheries managers and their fleets fresh impetus to help reduce seabird bycatch in the Southern Hemisphere.

The assessment, undertaken by the Commission for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna (CCSBT) with support from the FAO Common Oceans Program’s Tuna Project, brought together fisheries and seabird data from multiple countries and partners across the Southern Hemisphere.

Analysing 10 billion hooks of fishing effort and nearly 10 000 observed seabird captures, the assessment estimates that at least 30 000 seabirds are caught annually as bycatch in the pelagic longline fisheries assessed. The study also estimates the relative impact of this bycatch by considering both the species’ vulnerability to capture and the size of their populations. Hotspots of seabird bycatch risk were identified in parts of the Tasman Sea, southern Indian Ocean and southeast Atlantic.

“This has been a major collaborative effort, showing the value of bringing together fisheries data, seabird science and management expertise to support more targeted and effective conservation action. The findings give managers a stronger evidence base to focus mitigation and monitoring efforts to reduce seabird mortality”, said Manuel Barange, Assistant Director-General and Director of FAO’s Fisheries and Aquaculture Division. “The results will further support ongoing efforts by Regional Fisheries Management Organizations, governments, industry and other partners to reduce seabird bycatch.”

Jonathon Barrington, executive secretary of the Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels (ACAP), said that fisheries bycatch remains a significant threat to certain species of albatross and petrel.

“The scale of the bycatch of birds is still significant, threatening the survivability of some species. Albatrosses and petrels are the most threatened seabird species in the world, with some species Critically Endangered,” Barrington said.

Dominic Vallieres, executive secretary of the Commission for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna, welcomed the seabird assessment. “CCSBT Members have made a considerable investment in this work with the aim of supporting management outcomes that give greater consideration to the wider ecosystem,” he said.

The CCSBT assessment applied a Spatially Explicit Fisheries Risk Assessment (SEFRA) to quantify seabird bycatch risk associated with pelagic longline fisheries operating south of the equator from 2012 to 2023, integrating observer data from six CCSBT members and Brazil with spatio-temporal seabird density surfaces.

The assessment identified particularly high impacts on a number of albatross species, including Gibson's[Antipodean], Amsterdam, Tristan, Atlantic Yellow-nosed and Sooty Albatrosses”.

[Above text extracted from the FAO media release].

A juvenile Black-browed Albatross gets caught on a baited longline hook baited with a squid off the coast of Brazil.  The bird was later released, photograph by Fabiano Peppes

The reports short abstract follows:

“This report presents a spatially explicit assessment of the risk posed to seabirds by pelagic longline fisheries operating across the southern hemisphere from 2012 to 2023.  It combines observer data from seven national fleets with detailed information on seabird distribution and population dynamics.  The analysis covers approximately ten billion hooks of fishing effort and documents close to ten thousand observed seabird captures.  Using a modelling framework that links fishing effort, seabird density and estimated catchability, the study provides an annual mortality estimate of about thirty thousand seabirds, including mortality that is not directly observed.  The assessment shows that risk is unevenly distributed among species groups.  Great albatrosses and several mollymawk species experience the highest relative impacts, while petrels account for the largest absolute numbers due to their wider distribution and larger populations.  Spatial analyses identify persistent bycatch hotspots in the Tasman Sea, the southern Indian Ocean and the southeast Atlantic.   Mortality is concentrated in three major ocean management areas, with the Atlantic accounting for the largest share. The report highlights uncertainties related to incomplete observer coverage, unreported fishing activity and behavioural changes associated with observer presence.  It concludes that seabird bycatch in southern hemisphere pelagic longline fisheries remains widespread, spatially concentrated and likely underestimated, underscoring the need for improved monitoring and mitigation.”

Reference:

FAO. 2026.  Spatially explicit fisheries risk assessment to seabirds from pelagic longline fishing in the southern hemisphere.  Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.  51 pp.

John Cooper, Emeritus Information Officer, Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels, 08 October 2026

Oli Yates, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds) is a co-contributor to a report, for which a website announcement follows:

“FCF Co., Ltd. (FCF), in collaboration with National Taiwan Ocean University (NTOU) and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), has successfully completed the CATCH+ (Catch Assessment Through Camera & Hardware) project, a joint initiative designed to enhance understanding of bycatch through the analysis of Electronic Monitoring (EM) data and to support practical fisheries improvement efforts.

The project analyzed EM data collected between 2023 and 2025 from six distant-water longline vessels operating in the Indian and Atlantic Oceans.  The assessment covered 442 reviewed fishing sets, approximately 1.55 million hooks, and 13 617 manually reviewed EM video events.

The findings demonstrate that EM systems can provide valuable information on catch interactions, species identification, and spatial and seasonal distribution patterns.  Results confirmed a potentially higher risk of seabird interactions in waters south of 35°S, with around 70% of interactions occurring in this region, but accounting for only 15% of fishing effort assessed.  RSPB experts further determined that approximately 95% of observed seabirds could be identified to a broader taxonomic group, while around 35% could be identified to species level when sufficient distinguishing features were visible.

The project also highlighted that the effectiveness of EM programs depends heavily on factors such as camera placement, image quality, review protocols, and crew compliance.  As a result, CATCH+ identified several priorities for future EM development, including enhanced camera coverage, improved image quality, standardized review procedures, strengthened crew training, and more effective mechanisms to convert monitoring results into corrective actions and continuous improvement.

For FCF, the project reinforces the view that Electronic Monitoring is more than a surveillance tool. It serves as a valuable source of evidence and learning, transforming operational data collected at sea into actionable insights for fisheries improvement.

FCF plans to apply the lessons learned from CATCH+ to the continued development of its EM programs, including system specifications, review processes, crew engagement, and performance expectations for EM service providers and data reviewers.  These efforts aim to further strengthen fisheries transparency and support the long-term sustainability of global seafood supply chains.

The CATCH+ Executive Summary Report, released alongside this announcement, provides a detailed overview of the project’s methodology, key findings, limitations, and recommendations for future implementation.”

With thanks Oli Yates, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.

Reference:

Ting-Chun Kuo, Pei-Hsuan Sung, Oli Yates & Chia-Hao Mai 2026.  CATCH+ Catch Assessment Through Camera & Hardware Using Electronic Monitoring to Strengthen Bycatch Monitoring in Pelagic Longline Fisheries.  Executive Summary Report.  12 pp.

John Cooper, Emeritus Information Officer, Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels, 07 October 2026