1. Education and Awareness Education and Awareness

2. Awareness materials should contain: Are seabirds really of conservation concern or is this an animal rights issue? Are seabirds really of conservation concern or is this an animal rights issue? Why are seabirds vulnerable? Why are seabirds vulnerable? Is the Atlantic important for seabirds? Is the Atlantic important for seabirds? Are there solutions? Are there solutions? What are the benefits to fisherman? What are the benefits to fisherman?

3. Are seabirds really of conservation concern or is this an animal rights issue?

4. Some global stats BLI – 300 000 seabird mortalities annually 19 of 21 species of albatross threatened with extinction

5. Red List Indices for selected species-groups -0.08 -0.02 - 0.06 0.00 19881992199620002004 Worse Better -0.04 -0.10 Red List Index -0.12 -0.14 -0.16 Pigeons Waterbirds Parrots Raptors Gamebirds Seabirds

6. Threats to albatrosses and petrels Bycatch Introduced predators Natural causes Hunting Habitat degradation Human disturbance Pollution Impact © BirdLife International 0510152025 No. of species High Medium Low Unknown

7. Albatrosses at South Georgia are decreasing at an alarming rate! Number of pairs Data courtesy British Antarctic Survey Wandering albatrosses: 1960’s–1997: 1 % per year 1997–2004: 4.5 % per year 1960s 1200 1600 2000 198019902000 2005 Grey-headed albatrosses: 2.4 % per year 19701975198019851990199520002005 100 200 300 400 500 Black-browed albatrosses: 4.8 % per year 19701975198019851990199520002005 0 100 200

8. Why are seabirds vulnerable?

9. Long-lived Long-lived Delayed sexual maturity Delayed sexual maturity Slow breeding Slow breeding High adult survival rates High adult survival rates VULNERAB LE to MORTALITY MORTALITY

10. South Georgia Winter 99 Breeding 00 Winter 00 Grey-headed Albatross tracks TRAVEL LARGE DISTANCES

11. Spectacled Petrel - Critically endangered Total population: 3000 pairs at one island SMALL POPULATIONS

12. Their life history strategy makes them vulnerable to even small increases in adult mortality

13. The fishers perspective… In some cases events are rare – In some cases events are rare – complicates perceptions regarding the need for conservation E.g. for every seabird taken, 100s of fish are caught E.g. for every seabird taken, 100s of fish are caught Many sets don’t catch any Many sets don’t catch any Often large no’s around vessel Often large no’s around vessel BUT SMALL NUMBERS ADD UP WHEN WE CONSIDER THE ENTIRE FLEET OR REGION BUT SMALL NUMBERS ADD UP WHEN WE CONSIDER THE ENTIRE FLEET OR REGION

14. Is the Atlantic important for the conservation of these species?

15. 41 species known to interact with ICCAT fisheries 41 species known to interact with ICCAT fisheries –1 Critically endangered –7 Endangered –9 Vulnerable 35% of breeding albatrosses occur in the Atlantic 35% of breeding albatrosses occur in the Atlantic

16. Are there solutions?

17. Set lines at night Albatrosses feed mainly during the day Some smaller petrel species not conserved

18. Put enough weights onto line

19. Use bird-scaring (tori) lines Bycatch rate reduced by up to 80%

21. 10m Mitigation measures

22. What are the benefits to fisherman? Protecting marine life will protect the food chain Protecting the food chain will protect your livelihood Baits lost to birds and turtles cannot catch fish!

23. Thanks!