For information
A recent edition of the journal Birdlife International (1998) 8: 211-21 has
an interesting and eloquent contribution on the apparent failure of
Japanese Southern Bluefin Tuna (Thunnus maccoyii) fishing boats to alter
their techniques and reduce the massive decline in albatross populations
worldwide.
Some of the more interesting figures are:
- the Japanese longline tuna vessel (200-300 tonnes) is essentially a huge
freezer sitting atop a very large fuel tank (190 cub. m!)
- they can carry ~250 tonnes of fish
- fishing lines used are up to 130 km in length
- crews may be at sea for up to 10 months
- tens of thousands of seabirds are killed annually by longline tuna
vessels.
The writer (Graham Robertson) portrays a depressing outlook for our
seabirds but puts forward some challenging ideas to halt the decline in
these birds. Recommended reading for anyone interested in seabird
conservation.
Martin O'Brien
Executive Scientific Officer
Scientific Advisory Committee
Threatened Species Program
Department of Natural Resources and Environment
4/250 Victoria Pde.,
East Melbourne, 3002
Victoria, AUSTRALIA
tel: +61 3 9412 4567
fax: +61 3 9412 4586
e-mail:
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