Hi everybody -
For your information:
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MEDIA STATEMENT
Meeting to discuss an Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and
Petrels, 27 January to 2 February 2001 in Cape Town
A NEW INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENT TO PROTECT THREATENED SEABIRDS IS CONCLUDED
IN CAPE TOWN
Negotiations have concluded successfully today on the text of a new
international treaty, the Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and
Petrels (ACAP). The Agreement was finalised following a week-long meeting
hosted by the South African Government in Cape Town, which included
government representatives from albatross and petrel range states and
nations with fishing fleets that interact with these highly threatened
seabirds.
Albatrosses have the highest proportion of threatened species of any bird
family, making them the most imperilled of all the world's seabirds.
Scientists fear that up to 26 species of albatross and petrel may soon
become extinct unless firm steps are taken to reverse the destructive
effects of uncontrolled longline fishing, pollution, habitat degradation,
human disturbance of breeding sites, and introduced diseases and predators.
Of the 24 species of albatross, 21 species have declining populations, or
have populations of unknown status. About 50 percent of albatross
populations contain fewer than 100 breeding pairs, making albatrosses
extremely susceptible to random events at even low levels of mortality.
When all the species of albatross and 7 species of petrel from the Southern
Hemisphere were listed on the Appendices of the Bonn Convention on the
Conservation of Migratory Species, it was a recognition that urgent
international cooperation was needed to improve their threatened
conservation status. Following the listings governments, led by Australia
and others in the Valdivia Group of Southern Hemisphere Countries for the
Environment, embarked on discussions to develop the Agreement. The Cape
Town meeting has followed on from an earlier negotiation meeting held in
Australia in 2000.
The Agreement, which includes an Action Plan, describes a number of
conservation measures to be implemented by signatories to the proposed
Agreement. These include research and monitoring, reduction of incidental
mortality in fisheries, eradication of non-native species at breeding sites
(especially introduced predators such as rats and cats), reduction of
disturbance and habitat loss, and reducing pollution.
The South African Minister for Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Mr
Mohammed Valli Moosa, informed the meeting that South Africa is looking
forward to becoming an active member of the Agreement. "South Africa's
albatrosses and petrels breeding at the Prince Edward Islands are now
threatened by the effects of pirate longline fishing and recent studies by
South African researchers show alarming trends in their populations. We
hope the Agreement will help us and other countries to rid pirate fishing
from our seas," said Minister Valli Moosa. The Minister also indicated
that South Africa is in the process of nominating the Prince Edward Islands
for World Heritage listing for their outstanding conservation values.
Dr Denzil Miller, the Head of the South African Delegation to the
negotiations, commented that it was a great honour for South Africa to have
hosted the meeting and it was extremely gratifying that so much progress
had been possible to finalise the Agreement text. He reiterated that South
Africa carries, along with the other participating countries, a unique
responsibility for ensuring the ongoing survival of the most threatened
albatross and petrel species which breed in areas under its control and
which visit the waters where its vessels fish.
Mr Mark O'Sullivan, Head of the UK Delegation, stressed his Government's
commitment to the Agreement. He said, "We are delighted to have been able
to offer support for this important meeting, and at the successful outcome
of the negotiations".
Mr David Pritchard, representing BirdLife International at the meeting, was
pleased with the outcome of the negotiations. He called for countries to
begin implementing the terms of the Agreement immediately, without waiting
for the formality of entry into force. "Albatrosses and petrels are still
dying in their thousands on the hooks of longline fisheries, and BirdLife
International expects all countries holding the fate of these magnificent
birds in their hands to join and implement the Agreement as soon as
possible" said Mr Pritchard.
The Chairperson of the meeting, Mr Stephen Hunter of Environment Australia,
said that he was pleased with the way consensus had been reached during the
week and that he was sure this augured well for early adoption of the
Agreement.
The Agreement meeting in Cape Town has been sponsored by the governments of
South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. Additional
support has been received from the African Seabird Group, the World Wide
Fund for Nature (South Africa) and the University of Cape Town. Countries
attending the meeting came from both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres,
including several from South America.
For more information on the meeting, please contact Mr John Cooper, Head of
Secretariat, (021) 650 3426 or
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Hugo Phillipps
Communications Coordinator
Birds Australia
415 Riversdale Road
HAWTHORN EAST 3123, Australia
Tel: (03) 9882 2622, fax: (03) 9882 2677
Email: <>
Web site: <http://www.birdsaustralia.com.au>
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