Education and Awareness Education and Awareness

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?

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

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

Red List Indices for selected species-groups Worse Better Red List Index Pigeons Waterbirds Parrots Raptors Gamebirds Seabirds

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

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 Grey-headed albatrosses: 2.4 % per year Black-browed albatrosses: 4.8 % per year

Why are seabirds vulnerable?

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

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

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

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

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

Is the Atlantic important for the conservation of these species?

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

Are there solutions?

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

Put enough weights onto line

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

10m Mitigation measures

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!

Thanks!