The Fifteenth Meeting of the Compliance Committee and Extended Twenty-Seventh Annual Meeting of the Commission for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna (CCSBT) are being held online from 08 to 16 October (instead of in Sapporo, Japan as originally intended) due to travel restrictions and health considerations caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. On the agenda for the Compliance Committee is a proposal to enhance education on and implementation of Ecologically Related Species seabird measures within CCSBT fisheries.

Anton Wolfaardt, ACAP Seabird Bycatch Working Group Co-convenor, is attending the two meetings representing the Agreement.  In his opening statement Anton stated that bycatch in pelagic longline fisheries is one of the greatest threats to seabirds, particularly albatrosses and petrels.  At its last meeting in May 2019 (AC12), ACAP's Advisory Committee declared that a conservation crisis continues to be faced by its 31 listed species, with thousands of albatrosses, petrels and shearwaters dying every year as a result of longline fishing operations.  He went on to emphasize that despite extensive efforts by ACAP and other bodies that have been put into researching, recommending and supporting effective bycatch mitigation measures to address seabird bycatch in fisheries, in many instances these are not being implemented or are not being fully implemented.  Non-compliance in the proper use of seabird bycatch mitigation measures adopted by Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs) responsible for high-seas tuna fisheries, including the CCSBT, is identified as a critical issue.  Within jurisdictions where implementation of effective mitigation measures and appropriate enforcement has occurred, reductions in seabird bycatch have been demonstrated, sometimes dramatically so and without perceived detrimental consequences arising.

A bird-scaring line deployed behind a longliner in the South Atlantic, photograph from Sebastián Jiménez

He ended ACAP’s statement by saying that the Agreement is keen to work with the CCSBT and its members to address these critical issues, and is strongly supportive of the proposal being developed by BirdLife International and CCSBT members to enhance implementation of seabird mitigation measures within CCSBT fisheries.  According to BirdLife International’s Albatross Task Force the proposal should lead to improved training on seabirds for the fishing industry and fishing observers, as well as develop electronic monitoring for seabirds, such as by deploying on-board cameras, to ascertain if fishing vessels are implementing the required CCSBT mitigation measures.

With thanks to Anton Wolfaardt.

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 12 October 2020

World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD) is celebrated bi-annually on the second Saturday in May and in October.  Migration is described as the long-distance movement of animals migrating in response to local climate, food availability, seasonal changes and for breeding purposes.  WMBD is led by the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) and the African-Eurasian Waterbird Agreement (AEWA) and aims to raise awareness of the threats faced by migratory birds, their ecological importance, and highlight the need for their conservation and of their habitats.  In a combined AEWA/CMS media release,  Amy Fraenkel, CMS Executive Secretary, says “Conserving migratory birds requires cooperation and coordination along the entire flyway between countries and across national boundaries. Only by working together can we make sure they will survive and thrive.”

“This year’s theme is “Birds Connect Our World”, chosen to highlight the importance of conserving and restoring the ecological connectivity and integrity of ecosystems that support the natural cycles that are essential for the survival and well-being of migratory birds.  The theme also underlines the fact that migratory birds are part of our shared natural heritage and they depend on a network of sites along their migration routes for breeding, feeding, resting and overwintering.”  As a result of the COVID 19 pandemic, events marking World Migratory Bird Day 2020 this week are predominantly occuring online with 'virtual' talks and the like (click here).

A Wandering Albatross flies the Southern Ocean crossing international boundaries as it does so, painting by Brett Jarrett

All the 31 ACAP-listed species of albatrosses, petrels and shearwaters are migratory in terms of the WMBD definition: even those species endemic as breeders to a single country cross international boundaries when travelling at sea, moving between territorial waters and exclusive economic zones of different countries and into the high seas (click here).  On 19 June in between the two WMBD celebrations, ACAP took the lead in initiating and marking the first World Albatross Day (WAD2020).  In February, the CMS held its 13th Conference of Parties, with the theme “Migratory species connect the planet and together we welcome them home”.  CoP13 in Gandhinagar, India was attended by ACAP’s Executive Secretary, Christine Bogle, who in her statement to the body informed attendees of the Agreement's plans for WAD2020.

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 10 October 2020

Short first flight: a Northern Royal Albatross comes to ground after fledging; the headland colony is in the distance across the harbour

Thirty-six eggs were laid in the 2019/20 breeding season of globally Endangered and nationally Naturally Uncommon Northern Royal Albatrosses Diomedea sanfordi in New Zealand’s only mainland albatross colony at Pukekura/Taiaroa Head on the end of South Island’s Otago Peninsula.  From these eggs, 24 chicks have now fledged, with the last leaving the headland on 3 October – giving an overall breeding success of 66.7%.  Fifty-one eggs were laid in the previous 2018/19 season, a record from which 28 chicks fledged (54.9%).  The high number of failures in 2017/18 (with only 13 fledglings) contributed to the record number of eggs the next year, as failed pairs switched demi-populations of the biennially-breeding species.

One of the 2019/20 fledglings landed on the opposite side of the Otago Harbour (see photo above), from where it was collected by the Department of Conservation and returned to the colony; after five days it fledged for a second time during a strong wind, according to the Royal Albatross Centre’s Facebook page.

Atawhai shortly before fledging

The chick watched by the live-streaming ‘Royal Cam’ fledged successfully on 16 September, 230 days after hatching -  but not before being named Atawhai, meaning “to show kindness” in the Māori language, following a public vote.  It is intended to live-stream a new nest from December.  Meanwhile the first adults of this biennially breeding species, recognizable by their colour bands, have started to arrive in the colony for the 2020/21 season.  As has now become a tradition, bells were rung in the nearby city of Dunedin to herald the first bird’s return on 18 September.

"Chick Atawhai Feels the Winds Beneath her Wings on Morning of Fledge"

With thanks to Sharyn Broni, Ranger, Biodiversity, New Zealand Department of Conservation.

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 09 October 2020

A downy Wedge-tailed chick in is burrow in the Mokio Preserve, photograph from the Molokai Land Trust

The Mokio Preserve on the Hawaiian island of Molokai has been identified as a “sea level rise safe” site to establish a new colony of Laysan Albatrosses Phoebastria immutabilis. Towards this end decoys and broadcasts of pre-recorded calls have been deployed by the Molokai Land Trust and its partners at the coastal Anapuka Dune Restoration Project site within the preserve and there are plans to erect a predator-proof fence next year (click here).

The latest news is that another Hawaiian seabird, the Wedge-tailed Shearwater Ardenna pacifica, has commenced breeding within the preserve, according to a report by the American Bird Conservancy: “signs of shearwater burrow excavation were noted in three different areas, and included five active nests.  Two chicks were found in nests.  Fossil bird bones have also been found at this site, indicating shearwaters historically nested at Mokio.”  Previously, acoustic monitoring systems (song meters) set up in 2016 and also game cameras had resulted in detections of Wedge-tailed Shearwaters within the preserve.  Signs of burrow excavation were first noticed in 2013 according to the Molokai Land Trust’s Facebook page.

One of the Mokio Preserve's Wedge-tailed Shearwater chicks, video by Josiah Ching, Project Coordinator,  Molokai Land Trust

Currently a temporary fence to keep out deer along with an active trapping programme directed at cats and mongoose partially protects the preserve.  Once the intended predator-proof fence replaces thia deer fence it can be expected it will facilitate growth of the new colony of Wedge-tailed Shearwaters.  Then Laysan Albatrosses may become the next seabird species to commence breeding in the Mokio Preserve.

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 08 October 2020