South Africa Joins Treaty to Protect Albatrosses, Petrels

CANBERRA, Australia, November 7, 2003 (ENS) - South Africa has become the fifth nation to ratify the Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels - an international treaty to protect the world's rarest seabirds.

Anthony Mongalo, the High Commissioner of South Africa ratified the agreement at a ceremony at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Canberra on Thursday, an act that brings the treaty into force. The agreement will become legally binding on February 1, 2004.

South Africa is home to many populations of these threatened seabirds. It is a world leader in research and conservation initiatives crucial to these species.

Albatrosses on the ground in Australia. (Photos courtesy Australia Department of Environment and Heritage)

Australia and New Zealand signed the agreement in 2001. Ecuador and Spain ratified earlier this year.

Albatrosses and petrels are threatened globally at sea and on land. Direct contact with fishing operations, eating or being entangled in marine debris, pollution and overfishing of their prey are major threats.

"The greatest threat is ensnarement in longline fishing operations," Kemp said at the ratification ceremony. "Scientists estimate that thousands of seabirds have been killed from longline fishing practices in the Southern Hemisphere in the last three years."

In breeding colonies, they are threatened by predators, habitat damage and competition with other animals for nest space, parasites and disease.

"The agreement's entry into force will allow members to implement an action plan to protect critical habitat, control non-native species detrimental to albatrosses and petrels, introduce measures to reduce the incidental catch of seabirds in longline fisheries, and support research into the effective conservation of albatrosses and petrels," Kemp said.

Seabirds will receive greater protection under the Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels.

"With the United Kingdom very close to ratifying, ACAP has made great strides since it’s adoption just over two years ago," said Viljoen. "The strength of the Treaty is that it is legally binding on signatory states requiring them to take specific measures to reduce seabird by-catch from longlining and improve the conservation status of albatrosses and petrels."

Vaile said Australia urges all states and fishing nations that interact with albatrosses and petrels to work with Parties to the agreement "to ensure the survival of these important species.

The treaty provides a central point for the collection and analysis of data that will be used to develop a comprehensive record of albatross and petrel populations globally.