Albatross Task Force Instructor, Leo Tamini (left) and electronic monitoring compliance device inventor, Sihle Ngcongo (right) hold up the device outside the Seabird Bycatch Working Group meeting in Lima, Peru. Tamini plans to test the device in Argentinian Fisheries. 

At the recent Eighth Meeting of ACAP’s Seabird Bycatch Working Group (SBWG8), former fisheries observer and founder of Imvelo Blue Environment Consultancy, Sihle Ngcongo, presented an update on the electronic monitoring (EM) compliance device project that received ACAP funding through the 2019 small grants round. The EM device, conceived by Ngcongo, was developed in partnership with BirdLife South Africa with technical assistance from Nelson Miranda of Argonaut Science. 

The EM device works by monitoring the mechanical tension of a deployed bird scaring line and transmits real time and tension data wirelessly. This not only enhances the independent monitoring and deployment of this key seabird bycatch mitigation measure but also has the potential to reduce seabird bycatch rates, reduce workloads, and increase safety for both crew and observers at sea.

Ngcongo says the idea for the EM device came from a concern for the safety of fisheries observers, particularly at night when it is difficult to know if bird scaring lines have been deployed correctly. 

The potential of the device was apparent to Albatross Task Force (ATF) Instructor and Marine Program Coordinator for Aves Argentinas, Leo Tamini, who has taken one of the devices back to Argentina for testing. 

“We plan to test the device by integrating it into the activities of our ATF Argentina team during our next trip on an Argentinean freezer trawler. Hopefully, this can happen within this year,” said Tamini.

With the EM device having now reached its final production stage making it suitable for manufacture for the market, Ngcongo is cautiously optimistic about its future.

“My hope is for the device to be recognized as a cutting-edge innovation that can confirm bird scaring line compliance for the prevention of seabird entanglement and mortalities on longline vessels and trawlers.”

Bird scaring lines (BSL) are a best practice mitigation measure for reducing seabird bycatch in fisheries. ACAP’s Best Practice Advice for seabird bycatch mitigation along with its bycatch mitigation factsheets in several languages can be found at the ACAP website.

A summary report of ACAP funded projects will be presented to ACAP's Advisory Committee at its Fourteenth Meeting (AC14) commencing in Lima, Peru, on Monday. Updates on ACAP Small Grants and Secondments projects received at the recent meetings of ACAP's Working Groups will be featured in ACAP Latest News over the coming weeks. 

11 August 2024

 
Southern Royal Albatross on Campbell Island, photograph by Hannah Shand

Claudia Mischler and colleagues have produced a final report on research conducted on Campbell Island albatrosses during 2023/24 for the Conservation Services Programme Technical Working Group of New Zealand’s Department of Conservation.

The report’s Summary follows:

“This trip was a follow-up project from the work done on Campbell Island in March 2020 and February 2023 to primarily determine population trends for southern royal albatross (Diomedea epomophora). Nests were counted in two study (Col and Moubray) and three index areas (Faye, Paris, Honey) to compare to historical counts. Additional aims were to resight marked birds, band up to 200 pairs in the Col study area, deploy PTT and GLS tags, and set up remote cameras on nests to monitor breeding success. Other species work included conducting photo point counts for Campbell (Thalassarche impavida) and grey-headed albatross (T. chrysostoma) and to deploy remote cameras on grey-headed albatross nests. Accessible nest sites were searched for light-mantled sooty albatross (Phoebetria palpebrata), PTT trackers deployed, and remote cameras set up at nests. Opportunistic searches while traveling or within southern royal albatross study and index areas were done for Antipodean albatross (Diomedea antipodensis antipodensis), and any unbanded birds were marked. Opportunistic searches and counts were also done for northern giant petrels (Macronectes halli) and white-chinned petrels (Procellaria aequinoctialis).

Nest counts for southern royal albatross showed an overall decline of 32.8% since the 1990s and a 26.5% decline since the 2000s. Paris index area had the highest percent change of -46.2% since the 1990s, and Col study area had the lowest at -23.6%. A total of 35 PTT trackers were deployed on southern royal albatross in the Col study area which show birds moving north to the Chatham Rise, west to Tasmania, south towards Antarctica, and to the Patagonian Shelf east of Argentina. Thirty-four GLSs devices were also deployed. For demographics, 113 nests have both birds of the pair marked within the Col study area, and 22 cameras were set up on nests to monitor breeding success. For Campbell and grey-headed albatross photo point counts, the percent change between 2019/20 and 2023/24 showed a decline in the total number of Campbell albatross (sitting and loafing birds) of 16.1% and a decline of 27.6% of grey-headed albatross. For breeding success monitoring of grey-headed albatross, five cameras covering 28 nests were deployed. For light-mantled sooty albatross, ten PTT trackers were deployed on non-breeding birds which show most birds travelling south towards Antarctica. A total of 11 cameras covering 14 nests were set up for breeding success monitoring. For Antipodean albatross, eight birds were found on the Moubray Peninsula, of which three were previously banded as chicks in the 1990s.

Reference:

Mischler, C., Thompson, T., Moore, P., Philp, B. & Wickes, C. 2024.  POP2023-04 Campbell Island Seabird Research Project.  [Wellington]: Department of Conservation.  49 pp.

10 August 2024

Nigel Brothers took to the floor to present his paper, "Minimum Weight at the Hook Allowance of 50 g Inclusive of Hook Weight for Pelagic Longlines"

The Twelfth Meeting of ACAP’s Seabird Bycatch Working Group (SBWG12) concluded its second day of deliberations in Lima today.

SBWG12 continued its comprehensive review of papers addressing seabird bycatch, including those focused on mitigation measures across various fisheries, seabird safe rescue techniques, toolbox approaches for bycatch reduction, and a novel electronic monitoring device for compliance.

Several of the papers presented for SBWG12’s consideration stemmed from research funded by ACAP’s small grants programme including, SBWG12 Inf 14: Bycatch mitigation in longline SSF in Southern Peru and SBWG12 Doc 09: Minimum Weight at Hook for Pelagic LL.

Documents and Information Papers for the ACAP Working Group meetings, as well as for the upcoming Fourteenth Meeting of the Advisory Committee (AC14), are available through the Upcoming Meetings and Events page on the ACAP website. Please note that some documents are password-protected, with only abstracts accessible to the public.

SBWG12 concludes on Wednesday 7 August, with the resulting report submitted to AC14 for consideration starting next Monday.

7 August 2024

 
Aleks Terauds “down south”, photograph from the Australian Antarctic Division

The 2024 Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) Medal for International Scientific Coordination has been awarded to Dr Aleks Terauds of the Australian Antarctic Division where he leads the Marine Conservation and Management Program.  Aleks commenced his research career studying the albatrosses of Macquarie Island, for which he received his PhD in 2002 from the University of Tasmania.  His research into albatrosses and their conservation has resulted in a suite of scientific papers.  Remarkably, he has also produced no less than four popular books, all lavishly illustrated, on Southern Ocean albatrosses and the sub-Antarctic islands where they breed.  Aleks describes his current research as being largely applied, with a strong focus on improving and delivering environmental protection and achieving conservation outcomes in Antarctica, the Southern Ocean and the sub-Antarctic.

Albatross - Elusive Mariners of the Southern Ocean by Aleks Terauds and Fiona Stewart

Aleks’ medal citation follows:

“Dr Aleks Terauds has provided an exemplary personal contribution to advancing SCAR’s objectives regarding international research activities.  As the Chief Officer of the Standing Committee on the Antarctic Treaty System (SCATS) from 2014-2019, his service to the SCAR community produced substantial outcomes for Antarctic biodiversity and the environment, following his role as Chief Officer of Ant-Eco and informing his role as Chief Officer of Ant-ICON.

Dr Terauds has coordinated multiple international workshops and was recognised for his extraordinary mentorship with the 2018 APECS International Mentorship Award.  His ability to bridge the divides between science, management and international policy is commendable and brings about meaningful results at local and international scales.”

The presentation will be made at the SCAR Medals Award Ceremony at the SCAR 2024 Open Science Conference “Antarctic Science: Crossroads for a New Hope” on 23 August 2024.

Watch a video of Aleks Terauds talking about his research.

Aleks Terauds collects soil invertebrate samples in good (but still cold) weather on the top of Edinburgh Peak, the highest point at 910 m on Gough Island in 2013, photograph by John Cooper

On a personal note, I have hiked over much of both Gough and Marion with Aleks, acting as a guide and helping him with his research.  Our hikes included summitting both islands in rare good weather together – good memories!  I also enjoyed being a co-author and editor of one of his popular books, that on the Prince Edward Islands.

Marion & Prince Edward.  Africa’s Southern Islands by Aleks Terauds, John Cooper, Steven Chown and Peter Ryan

Selected Publications by Aleks Terauds on ACAP-listed albatrosses and petrels and their breeding localities

Cleeland, J.B., Alderman R., Bindoff, A., Lea, M.A., McMahon, C.R., Phillips, R.A., Raymond, B., Sumner, M.D., Terauds, A., Wotherspoon, S.J. & Hindell, M.A. 2019.  Factors influencing the habitat use of sympatric albatrosses from Macquarie Island, Australia.  Marine Ecology Progress Series 609: 221-237.

Cleeland, J.B., Pardo, D., Raymond, B., Terauds, A., Alderman, R., McMahon, C.R., Phillips, R.A., Lea, M.-A., & Hindell, M.A., 2020.  Introduced species and extreme weather as key drivers of reproductive output in three sympatric albatrosses.  Scientific Reports 10, 8199.

Russ, R. & Terauds, A. 2009.  Galapagos of the Antarctic.  Wild Islands South of New Zealand.  Christchurch: Heritage Expeditions.  224 pp.

Terauds, A. 2002.  Population Biology and Ecology of Albatrosses on Macquarie Island: Implications for Conservation Status.  Doctor of Philosophy, University of Tasmania.  304 pp.

Terauds, A., Cooper, J., Chown, S.L. & Ryan, P. 2010.  Marion & Prince Edward.  Africa’s Southern Islands.  Stellenbosch: SUN PReSS.  176 pp.

Terauds, A. & Gales, R. 2006.  Provisioning strategies and growth patterns of Light-mantled Sooty Albatrosses Phoebetria palpebrata on Macquarie Island.  Polar Biology 29: 917-926.

Terauds, A., Gales, R., & Alderman, R. 2005.  Trends in numbers and survival of Black-browed (Thalassarche melanophrys) and Grey-headed (T. chrysostoma) Albatrosses breeding on Macquarie Island.  Emu - Austral Ornithology 105: 159-167.

Terauds, A., Gales, R., Baker, G.B. & Alderman R. 2006.  Foraging areas of Black-browed and Grey-headed Albatrosses from Macquarie Island in relation to Marine Protected Areas.  Aquatic Conservation –Marine Freshwater Ecosystems 16: 133-146.

Terauds, A., Gales, R., Baker, G.B. & Alderman, R. 2006.  Population and survival trends of Wandering Albatrosses (Diomedea exulans) breeding on Macquarie Island.  Emu - Austral Ornithology 106: 211-218.

Terauds, A. & Stewart, F. 2005.  Albatross - Elusive Mariners of the Southern Ocean.  Sydney: New Holland Publishers.  175 pp.

Terauds, A. & Stewart, F. 2008.  Subantarctic Wilderness Macquarie Island.  Crows Nest, Australia: Jacana Books.  176 pp.

John Cooper, Emeritus Information Officer, Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels, 06 August 2024