Aimee van Tatenhove (College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA) and colleagues have published online in the open-access journal Marine Ornithology on colony attendance in globally Near Threatened Streaked Shearwaters Calonectris leucomelas.

The paper’s abstract follows:

“Many species of Procellaridae [sic] are nocturnal on their breeding grounds, exhibiting reduced activity during fuller moonlight, perhaps to avoid predation by predators that use the full moon to hunt after sunset. Among these nocturnal species, Streaked Shearwaters Calonectris leucomelas have high wing loading and have difficulty taking off—especially with unfavorable wind conditions—thus potentially exacerbating moonlight avoidance. Effects of moonlight and wind conditions on the colony activity of this species, however, is poorly understood. We investigated the phenomenon by counting the departure and arrival of birds, and measuring ambient light intensity, local wind speed, and local wind direction at a breeding colony of Streaked Shearwaters on Awashima Island, Japan. Moon phase and ambient light had no significant effect on the frequency of arrivals or departures. Frequency of departures decreased significantly with increasing wind speed, but no effect was seen on arrivals, and wind direction had no effect on arrivals or departures. Our results indicate that: (1) wind speed may play an important role in Streaked Shearwater takeoff from the colony, and (2) moonlight avoidance is a plastic trait that may diminish in large-bodied shearwaters when few diurnal aerial predators are present.”

Streaked Shearwater

Reference:

Van Tatenhove, A., Fayet, A., Watanuki, Y., Yoda, K. & Shoji, A. 2018.  Streaked Shearwater Calonectris leucomelas moonlight avoidance in response to low aerial predation pressure, and effects of wind speed and direction on colony attendance.  Marine Ornithology 46: 177-185.

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 31 October 2018

The Australian Assistant Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources, Senator Richard Colbeck last week released Australia’s 42-page National Plan of Action for Minimising Incidental Catch of Seabirds in Australian Capture Fisheries (NPOA - Seabirds).

Minister Colbeck said “the NPOA - Seabirds provides guidance on best-practice mitigation, monitoring and reporting of seabird interactions across all fishing activities in Australian waters.  The action plan fulfils our obligations and aligns our national efforts with those of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations International Plan of Action for Reducing Incidental Catch of Seabirds in Longline Fisheries (IPOA - Seabirds).

An Australian endemic Shy Albatross at sea - photograph by Kirk Zufelt

The NPOA’s Foreword signed by Senator Colbeck follows:

“Australian fisheries are among the best managed in the world. The Australian Government is working hard to keep them this way. An important part of this is ensuring that our fisheries resources continue to be managed sustainably and to minimise impacts of fishing activities on the marine environment.

I am pleased to release Australia’s National Plan of Action for Minimising Incidental Catch of Seabirds in Australian Capture Fisheries (NPOA - Seabirds) which provides a national approach to mitigating the impact of fishing on seabirds.

Australia recognises the need to address the impact of fishing on seabirds. This action plan provides guidance on best-practice mitigation, monitoring and reporting of seabird interactions for all fishing activities. It will reduce duplication, target responses to areas that need it most and result in more uniform, efficient and cost-effective seabird bycatch management. Establishing minimum reporting standards will enable us to better understand the extent of seabird interactions across all Australia’s capture fisheries.

NPOA - Seabirds demonstrates Australia’s commitment to sustainable fishing practices internationally. It also fulfils our obligation to Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations by aligning our national efforts with those of the FAO’s International Plan of Action for Reducing Incidental Catch of Seabirds in Longline Fisheries (IPOA - Seabirds).

NPOA - seabirds will enhance the reputation of Australia’s sustainable seafood industry, particularly in high-value export markets, and help strengthen our international seafood brand.

Most importantly, it will build trust among Australians and international consumers that our fisheries are managed under a sustainable and environmentally responsible fisheries management regime.”

With thanks to Barry Baker.

Reference:

 Department of Agriculture and Water Resources 2018.  National Plan of Action for Minimising Incidental Catch of Seabirds in Australian Capture Fisheries.  Canberra: Department of Agriculture and Water Resources.  42 pp.  ISBN: 978-1-76003-182-4

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 30 October 2018

Earlier this month the Kauai Endangered Seabird Recovery Project (KESRP) held its annual E Ho‘opomaika‘i ‘ia na Manu ‘A‘o (A Cultural Release of the Native Newell’s Shearwater) event on the Hawaiian island of Kauai following rehabilitation by the Save Our Shearwaters (SOS) programme.

Ten globally Endangered Newell's Shearwater Puffinus newelli fledglings downed on the island by light pollution or collisions that had been handed into the SOS programme by concerned members of the public were released in a ceremony in front of school children from the Kalaheo Elementary and Island schools.  Before the birds were released back out to sea Kupuna [Elder] Maureen Fodale offered a pule (Hawaiian prayer).

Kupuna Maureen Fodale releases a Newell's Shearwater fledgling. Photograph by Trinity Tippin

In the same week 20 globally Vulnerable Hawaiian Petrel chicks Pterodroma sandwichensis were translocated from their Kauai  mountain home in the Hono o Na Pali Natural Area Reserve over two days by the KESRP to the predator-fenced Nihoku site within the Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge to be hand reared in artificial burrows alongside the translocated Newell's Shearwater chicks which had not yet fledged.  This the fourth year of translocating Hawaiian Petrels to Nihoku in an effort to create a new, protected colony (click here).

“Until the middle of December our translocation staff [of Pacific Rim Conservation] will be caring for these endangered fluff balls, at which point they will fly out to sea as wild, adult seabirds.”

Translocated Hawaiian Petrel chick

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 29 October 2018

The Eleventh Meeting of ACAP’s Advisory Committee (AC11) will be held from Monday 13 to Friday 17 May 2019, in the Jurerê Internacional Il Campanario Hotel, Florianópolis, Brazil.   AC11 Meeting Circular 1 giving information on meeting location and dates, submission of documents and application from Observers is now available online.  Details follow.

Jurerê Internacional Il Campanario Hotel

Meetings of the Seabird Bycatch Working Group, and the Population and Conservation Status Working Group will precede AC11 at the same venue (SBWG9 from Monday 6 to Wednesday 8 May, and PaCSWG5 from Thursday 9 to Friday 10 May).

A Heads of Delegation meeting will be convened on Sunday 12 May 2019 in the late afternoon/ evening. The time for this meeting will be advised closer to the meeting date.

Meeting Documents

The deadlines for submission and distribution of meeting documents for AC11 and the Working Group meetings follow:

11 January 2019 Draft agenda for AC11 (and Working Groups) distributed by the Secretariat

12 February 2019 Deadline for inclusion of new items in the meeting agendas

14 March 2019 Revised draft agendas for AC11 and Working Group meetings distributed

7 March 2019 Deadline for submission of AC11 Working Papers and Working Group Papers requiring translation (full documents are required by this deadline, however, only the abstracts of WG papers will be translated).

29 March 2019 Deadline for submission of AC11 Information Papers, and Working Group Information Papers

6 April 2019 Meeting documents distributed in all working languages by the Secretariat

Dates are close of business local times. Meeting documents will not be accepted after these dates. It would assist the operation of the Secretariat if papers were submitted as early as possible. It would be appreciated if participants could advise the Secretariat in advance of any papers that they intend submitting to the meetings.

Applications for Observer Status

The deadlines for submission of requests for Observer status to attend AC11 are:

12 February 2019 Deadline for submission of written requests for observer status by international bodies

14 March 2019 Deadline for submission of written requests for observer status from non-international bodies

14 March 2019 International bodies advised if their request for observer status has been approved

12 April 2019 Non-international bodies advised if their request for observer status has been approved

Information on registration and other meeting arrangements will be provided in Meeting Circular 2.

Marco Favero, ACAP Executive Secretary & Nathan Walker Chair, ACAP Advisory Committee, 26 October 2018