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Audubon Lauds Agreement Protecting Albatross



>This is rather lenghty but informative. Van Atkins 




>To: CHAPTER-COMMUNICATOR@LIST.AUDUBON.ORG
>X-AWOD-ADDRESSED-TO: <vatkins@awod.com> and 0 others
>
>AUDUBON LAUDS INTERNATIONAL ACCORD PROTECTING ALBATROSS
>
>Audubon's Living Oceans Program Strongly Supports Cape Town Agreement,
>Calls it a Vital Step in Protection of Threatened Albatross and Petrels
>
>New York, NY February 14th, 2001 - the National Audubon Society's Living
>Oceans Program today praised the signing of a new international treaty, the
>Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels (ACAP), which
>protects these highly threatened and rapidly declining pelagic seabirds.
>The treaty was finalized following a week-long meeting hosted by the South
>African Government in Cape Town, which included government representatives
>from albatross and petrel range states and nations with fishing fleets that
>interact with these highly threatened seabirds.
>
>"We are driving the world's greatest flying creatures toward extinction not
>to feed humanity but to catch high-priced fish that few people can afford,"
>said Dr. Carl Safina, Audubon's Vice President of Marine Conservation.  "The
>planet itself cannot afford to see these birds vanish, and already-developed
>techniques must be used to eliminate the problem of albatross kills on
>longlines."
>
>"Audubon's Living Oceans Program strongly supports this new agreement,
>legally binding under the Convention on Migratory Species," said Living
>Oceans Pacific Representative Eric Gilman.  "ACAP promises to fill gaps in
>currently available conservation tools, addressing the urgent threats facing
>these magnificent, beleaguered birds.  It's an agreement that holistically
>approaches albatross and petrel conservation."
>
>Albatrosses are the most imperiled of all the world's seabirds.  Scientists
>fear that 26 species of albatross and petrel may soon become extinct unless
>firm steps are taken to reverse the destructive effects of uncontrolled
>longline fishing, pollution, habitat degradation, human disturbance of
>breeding sites, and introduced diseases and predators.  Of the 24 species of
>albatross, 21 species have declining populations, or have populations of
>unknown status.  About 50 percent of albatross populations contain fewer
>than 100 breeding pairs, making the birds extremely susceptible to random
>events or even low levels of mortality.
>
>Despite the existence of cost-effective mitigation techniques, the
>incidental mortality of seabirds in longline fisheries is considered the
>most critical threat facing albatrosses and petrels. This has contributed to
>the decline of several Southern Hemisphere species, and it also threatens
>the Northern Hemisphere's three albatross species.  "The agreement provides
>a comprehensive framework to identify actions needed to conserve Southern
>Hemisphere albatross and petrels, with an overall goal of restoring them to
>health," continued Safina.  "It also has the capability of being expanded to
>address the conservation needs of northern albatross species, which are also
>at serious risk."
>
>The agreement's action plan describes key conservation measures to be
>implemented by signatories to the proposed Agreement.  These include
>conservation of critical marine habitat, research and monitoring, reduction
>of incidental mortality in fisheries, eradication of non-native predators at
>breeding sites, reduction of disturbance and habitat loss, and reducing
>pollution.
>
>BirdLife International (of which the Audubon Society is the partner
>designate for North America) also endorsed the outcome of the negotiations
>and called for countries to begin implementing the terms of the Agreement
>immediately, without waiting for the formality of entry into force.  "I want
>to echo Bird Life International's support of ACAP," continued Living Ocean's
>Gilman.  "Thousands of albatrosses and petrels are dying on the hooks of
>longlines.  All countries holding the fate of these birds in their hands
>should implement this agreement as soon as possible."
>
>
>MEDIA CONTACT:
>John Bianchi            jbianchi@audubon.org            212/979-3026
>
>
>