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

Participants of ACAP's Seabird Bycatch Workshop

The Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels (ACAP) kicked off its two-weeks of meetings today in Lima, Peru, with a workshop aimed at addressing the ongoing challenges related to seabird bycatch data and reporting. 

Among the workshop's primary objectives was the review of the current ACAP seabird bycatch-related indicators and associated data reporting. Participants aimed to identify ways to refine these indicators, ensuring they are both practical and useful for reporting. The workshop also explored alternative data sources and approaches to enhance the accuracy and comprehensiveness of bycatch-related reporting to ACAP.

The workshop today builds on previous efforts, including recommendations from the Eleventh Meeting of the Seabird Bycatch Working Group (SBWG11) and the prioritisation framework developed by ACAP to monitor and report progress on priority conservation actions. 

The outcomes of this workshop will be presented to the Twelfth Meeting of ACAP’s Seabird Bycatch Working Group (SBWG12), with potential recommendations for further consideration by ACAP’s Advisory Committee.

SBWG12 and the Eighth Meeting of ACAP’s Population and Conservation Status Working Group (PaCSWG8) are taking place over the week, along with a joint SBWG/PaCSWG meeting to discuss cross-cutting issues. 

Following the Working Group meetings, the Fourteenth Meeting of ACAP’s Advisory Committee (AC14) will be held from Monday 12 August to Friday 16 August. A Heads of Delegation meeting will be convened on Sunday 11 August.

Documents and Information Papers for the ACAP Working Group meetings and AC14 can be found at the links in Upcoming Meetings and Events page at the ACAP website. Note, however, that some documents are password-protected so only their abstracts are publicly available.  

5 August 2024

Short-tailed Albatross pair, artwork by Lucimara Wesolowicz‎, Artists and Biologists Unite for Nature for ACAP

A 60-day period opened on 16 July to comment on bycatch reporting for the Vulnerable Short-tailed Albatross Phoebastria albatrus in the Hawaiian longline fishery.

“This request is for an extension of a currently approved information collection.  Federal regulations at https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-50/chapter-VI/part-665/subpart-F/section-665.815 require that the operator of a vessel with a Hawaii longline limited access permit notify NMFS in the event an endangered short-tailed albatross is hooked or entangled during fishing operations. Following the retrieval of the albatross from the ocean, the vessel operator must record the condition of the bird on a recovery data form. A veterinarian will use the information to provide advice to the vessel operator for caring for the bird. If the albatross is dead, the vessel operator must attach an identification tag to the carcass to assist U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) biologists in follow-up studies on the specimen. This collection is one of the terms and conditions contained in the Endangered Species Act Section 7 biological opinion issued by USFWS and is intended to maximize the probability of the long-term survival of short-tailed albatross accidentally taken by longline gear.  To ensure consideration, comments regarding this proposed information collection must be received on or before September 16, 2024.”

Read more about the request for comment here and here.

John Cooper, Emeritus Information Officer, Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels, 02 August 2024