ACAP's commemorative logo to mark the Agreement's 20th anniversary was designed by South African Graphic Designer, Geoff Tyler.

Today, 1 February 2024, the Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels (ACAP) commemorates its 20th anniversary. Over the past two decades, ACAP Parties, researchers, non-Party Range States, Nongovernmental Organisations (NGOs) and other entities – a community of champions dedicated to the conservation of albatrosses and petrels - have shown a resolute commitment to seeking, promoting and implementing solutions to the crisis facing these magnificent birds.

The precarious state of albatross and petrel populations was first recognised in the 1990s when the scale of the incidental deaths of albatrosses and petrels in fisheries was realised by national governments, intergovernmental organisations and NGOs. Hundreds of thousands of birds were being incidentally injured or killed in fisheries operations (known as bycatch), through entanglements with fishing gear, or swallowing baited hooks and drowning. The conservation of these incredible birds became a focus, and the seeds of ACAP were sown. 

The development of a regional agreement began under the Convention for Migratory Species (CMS) and remarkably, only two meetings were needed to finalise the Agreement. In 2001, the Agreement was opened for signature in Canberra, Australia, and it entered into force on 1 February 2004. Currently, ACAP has 13 Parties: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, France, New Zealand, Norway, Peru, South Africa, Spain, the United Kingdom, and Uruguay. 31 species of albatrosses and petrels (including shearwaters) are listed on Annex 1 of the Agreement.   

ACAP seeks to conserve listed albatrosses, petrels and shearwaters by coordinating international activity to mitigate known threats to their populations.Such threats include, fishing operations, pollution, predation from invasive species and habitat destruction. (Images left to right): A drowned Wandering Albatross caught on a tuna longline hook, photograph by Graham Robertson; Laysan Albatrosses amongst plastic debris, photograph by Steven Siegel, Marine Photobank; A bloodied Light-mantled Albatross after being attacked by invasive mice, photograph by Peter Ryan; Seabirds flock to a trawler vessel, photograph by Southern Seabird Solutions Trust

Albatrosses and petrels, with their extensive migratory ranges, confront a myriad of threats that transcend national boundaries. Fisheries, particularly longline and trawl operations, pose the greatest threat to ACAP’s 31-listed species. However, significant pressure on populations also stems from land-based predators such as mice, rats and cats. Other threats to populations include habitat loss, climate change, disease, and pollutants, including plastic and heavy metals.

ACAP functions as a focus for international cooperation to mitigate these threats, The Action Plan annexed to the Agreement provides a framework for the development of effective conservation measures, both on land and at sea, and fosters the exchange of information and expertise. Key initiatives include reducing seabird bycatch through the review and recommendation of seabird bycatch mitigation measures, engaging with fisheries organisations, conducting population assessments, and developing conservation guidelines. ACAP also champions research and capacity-building initiatives through its small grants and secondment programmes, fostering collaboration among Parties. More recently, the establishment of World Albatross Day, celebrated annually on 19 June, has provided a focus to increase public awareness of these incredible birds and their imperilled state.

A Buller’s Albatross flies past New Zealand’s Pyramid Rock.  Celebrating 20 years of ACAP will form a part of this year’s World Albatross Day on 19 June.  Photograph by Enzo M.R. Reyes

This year, ACAP will mark the fifth World Albatross Day on 19 June with the theme “Marine Protected Areas – Safeguarding our Oceans”.  ACAP’s newly designed logo for “WAD2024” takes note of the anniversary year, which will also be marked with a poster, two new infographics in the ACAP Species series and ACAP’s fifth collaboration with Artists and Biologists United for Nature (ABUN).

Despite the achievements and dedication of the community of champions committed to the conservation of ACAP species, many albatross and petrel populations continue to decline. Challenges persist, such as the need for accurate data on seabird bycatch locations and quantities and the imperative to involve Range States and other entities in implementing ACAP's recommendations.

The commitment to achieving and maintaining a favourable conservation status for albatrosses and petrels remains the Agreement’s driving force. It emphasises the importance of a cooperative approach to overcome challenges. As ACAP enters its third decade, the focus remains on ensuring that these majestic seabirds continue to grace our oceans and skies well into the future.

Reference:

Cooper, J., Baker, G.B., Double, M.C., Gales, R., Papworth, W, Tasker, M.L. & Waugh, S.M. 2006.  The Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels: rationale, history, progress and the way forward.  Marine Ornithology 34: 1-5.

ACAP Secretariat

1 February 2024

A graphic depicting the six Marine Flyways and species that utilise them. Graphic and video below by Science Animation Studio

In an extension to the established concept of flyways (well-established and repeated routes used by migrating birds) and mirroring its Global Flyways Program that connects conservation organisations along these flyways, BirdLife International has launched the Marine Flyway concept to help coordinate global conservation action for migrating seabirds.

Migratory bird populations face numerous threats, with challenges compounded for species that traverse vast distances and rely on habitats spanning multiple countries. Seabirds, among the most imperilled avian groups, embark on migrations over open waters, a phenomenon not adequately addressed by existing flyways. 

BirdLife's initiative, supported by an extensive analysis of tracking data from over 60 researchers via the Seabird Tracking Database, has identified six major Marine Flyways. These include the Atlantic Ocean Flyway, North Indian Ocean Flyway, East Indian Ocean Flyway, West Pacific Ocean Flyway, Pacific Ocean Flyway, and Southern Ocean Flyway.

It is hoped that identifying these flyways will open new avenues for understanding and conserving seabirds, facilitating international collaboration to address threats along the newly identified Marine Flyways.

Further information on the Marine Flyways concept can be found at BirdLife’s website, and an informative webinar from the launch of the concept is available to watch, here.

31 January 2024

 
The four albatrosses that breed on Marion Island are all at risk of predation by mice; artwork and poster design by Namasri “Namo” Niumim

Eradicating sub-Antarctic Marion Island’s alien House Mice that have taken to killing albatrosses and petrels will be an expensive operation.  Ensuring that the budget comprehensively covers all essential requirements is of paramount importance, as it greatly enhances the likelihood of attaining a successful outcome.

Fund-raising the hundreds of millions of Rands required is by necessity a long and arduous task, one the Mouse-Free Marion (MFM) Project has been working on assiduously for over five years, with still some way to go before the eradication, currently planned for 2026, can take place.  Over this time the financial support we have received has been hugely encouraging.  Over 1900 individuals and organizations from South Africa and from around the world have contributed to the Sponsor a Hectare appeal, raising nearly seven million Rands to date, with sponsorships coming in regularly.  Along with this crowd-funding initiative, major donations have been received from many trusts, funding bodies and the like and from individuals, some preferring to remain anonymous.

With the recent year having ended in a season broadly considered one for giving, the MFM Project Team has given some thought as to how it can thank its supporters.  All hectare sponsors receive a Certificate of Sponsorship, but the team thought that perhaps, in addition, they would like to have an attractive artwork that can be freely downloaded and framed for display.

The MFM Project’s new “Albatrosses on Marion Island” poster has been produced pro bono for the project by Thai illustrator Namasri 'Namo' Niumim from Bangkok.  Namo, who works in gouache, graduated from the School of Architecture and Design, King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Communication Design.  The poster depicts the four Marion Island albatrosses, Grey-headed, Light-mantled, Sooty and Wandering, that are all susceptible to predation by mice.  The paintings of each albatross have been taken from an infographic series Namo is producing for all 31 species of albatrosses and petrels listed by the Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels (ACAP).  It is pleasing to note that ACAP gave its endorsement to the MFM Project at the last meeting of its Advisory Committee and has now given its approval for its infographic artwork to be used to create the new poster.

The four ACAP Infographics for Marion Island-breeding albatrosses, their printing and framing sponsored by supporters, decorate the MFM Project’s office in BirdLife South Africa’s recently opened Cape Town headquarters

Three of the four ACAP Species Infographics depicting Marion Island albatrosses have been sponsored by BirdLife South Africa on behalf of the MFM Project.  All of them are freely available for downloading from this website.  The new poster joins a series of 34 MFM Project photographic posters designed pro bono by long-time MFM supporter, Michelle Risi, available for downloading from the MFM website and also from an album on the MFM Project Facebook page.

Originally published on the Mouse-Free Marion Project website and posted here after editing with the project’s approval.

John Cooper, Emeritus Information Officer, Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels, 30 January 2024

A Black-browed Albatross in flight. Photograph courtesy of Alex Adamiano

The World Bank and its ProBlue Project, the UN Division for Oceans and the Law of the Sea (UNDOALOS), the International Seabed Authority (ISA), the University of Melbourne and the University of Nantes and FAO’s Development Law Service are calling for applications for the Ocean Governance Capacity Building Training Program.

The Ocean Governance Capacity Building Training Program flyer states the following:  

 "Overview. This online training program provides an introduction to global ocean governance, including a primer on public international law related to the oceans and the international legal framework for the blue economy. It is centered on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and related instruments addressing fisheries, marine pollution, conservation and biodiversity, climate change, maritime transport and shipping, marine scientific research, and activities in the Area, among other topics. This training program is tailored to participants from Latin America and the Caribbean region. 

The training program consists of: (i) an e-learning course; (ii) region specific reading materials; (iii) individual participant assignments; and (iv) live online discussion sessions. This training program will be provided in English and Spanish. An overview of the course modules is available in the enclosed Curriculum. 

Audience and objectives of the training. The objective of this training program is to enhance the capacity of government officials, staff of partner organizations, and other stakeholders on ocean governance by providing training on international law related to oceans and the legal framework for the blue economy, including relevant regional instruments. This training is expected to result in a greater understanding of relevant international law and facilitate the development and implementation of national legal frameworks on ocean governance with a view to achieving the sustainable development of blue economies, including by mobilizing public and private financial resources for sustainable development."

This particular call for applications is for the Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) Region, with the programme to be delivered in May 2024.

The deadline for applications for both English and Spanish workshops is February 11, 2024, at 11:59 PM EDT. Further details on the Ocean Governance Capacity Building Training Program, including how to apply, can be found, here.

29 January 2024