Save the Albatross Campaign Receives Funding

Save the Albatross, a global campaign of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (www.savethealbatross.net) has been selected for Friend of the Sea (FOS) funding, as it is achieving tangible results in the conservation of these endangered sea birds.

Albatrosses are true ocean-going birds and include the world’s largest flying bird, the Wandering albatross. They face many threats, including incidental capture in longline and trawl fisheries. Unless bycatch reduction measures are implemented, 17 of the world’s 22 albatross species could be at risk. Nine species are either endangered or critically endangered, according to the IUCN Redlist (www.redlist.org).

The RSPB and BirdLife International have developed the Albatross Task Force, a global team that works with fishermen to save the albatross from extinction. The project educates fishermen and the industry stakeholders in seven seabird bycatch hotspots worldwide, including Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Namibia, South Africa, Uruguay to implement appropriate bycatch reduction measures on board vessels.

An estimated 100.000 albatrosses are killed in fisheries every year. Considering mature albatross of some species lay one egg every two years, this mortality rate is not sustainable.

To learn more about Albatross Task Force, a project of BirdLife International, watch their video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p88yOWgEeiM&feature=player_embedded