New research revealed today shows that longline fishing is the prime factor responsible for greatly increasing the risk of extinction among at least five species of albatross. This information, synthesised by BirdLife International coincides with an important workshop on seabirds in Cape Town, attended by Falklands Conservation representative scientist Nic Huin, reveals alarming declines in six more albatross species. All 21 albatross species in the world are now considered to face extinction in the future largely owing to illegal and unregulated longline fishing. This method kills more than 300,000 birds, including 100,000 albatross annually, whether by drowning or dying of their injuries on baited hooks.

The six species whose status has been significantly upgraded according to International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) categories are:

Black-browed Albatross, dropped dramatically from Near-Threatened in 2000, to Vulnerable in 2002, has now been reclassified as Endangered, only two steps away from extinct. Over the last six years much of Nic’s work as part of Falklands Conservaion has been the assessment and study of these beautiful Falkland birds, for which we hold 80% of the world population here in the Islands.

The Atlantic Yellow nosed Albatross, found in Gough and Tristan de Cunha, from Near-Threatened to Endangered, as is the Sooty Albatross, Black-footed Albatross and Indian Yellow-nosed Albatross. Finally, the Laysan Albatross from Hawaii moves to Vulnerable.

The most threatened species of all, the Amsterdam Albatross, remains Critically Endangered, the final step before extinction, with only 20 pairs breeding annually.

Dr Michael Rands, BirdLife’s Director and Chief Executive, says ‘The numbers of seabirds killed on longlines is increasing, as is the number of albatross species in higher categories of threat. Longline fishing, especially by pirate vessels, is the single biggest threat to these seabirds’.

The Save the Albatross campaign has aimed to reduce the number of seabird deaths caused by the longline fishing industry to sustainable levels, and promote international agreements such as the Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels (ACAP). The number of countries ratifying this agreement will soon reach the necessary five for this to enter into force. The agreement requires states to take specific measures to reduce the numbers of seabirds killed and improve their conservation status. Australia, Ecuador, New Zealand and Spain have fully ratified, leaving either the UK or South Africa to become the fifth state. However, ACAP is in the process of being ratified on behalf of the UK without inclusion of any of the territories where albatross breed, notably the Falklands, South Georgia and Tristan de Cunha. It is imperative that these territories join the UK within this agreement in the near future.

Falklands Conservation’s Becky Ingham states: ‘This is very disturbing news, and should not be treated lightly. Many of these birds will be extinct unless this trend can be reversed. Many in the Falklands feel that much is done to encourage safe fishing practices here and I would agree that we have a high level of precautions being taken within our own fishing industry to reduce bird deaths. However, this is not enough. We must all work together on an international level to stop the slide towards extinction’.

At the same time, one of Britain’s most experienced sailors, John Ridgway, who rowed the North Atlantic with round-the-world yachtsman Chay Blyth in 1966, is fast approaching South Africa on his year-long expedition by yacht to report illegal fishing operations and campaign for stricter action against them. Ridgway’s expedition will be joined for the Falklands leg in January by Falklands Conservation’s Tim Reid.

1) BirdLife International is a global alliance of conservation organisations working in more than 100 countries who, together, are the leading authority on the status of birds, their habitats and the issues and problems affecting bird life.

5) For details of BirdLife International’s Save the Albatross campaign, and for more information on