The European Outdoor Conservation Association (EOCA) is a group of companies, which provide grants to support the environment. This year our very own Albatross Task Force has been selected as a candidate to win over £20,000 of funding in the ‘nature’ category.
The project was nominated by Páramo, who are also generously supporting the Albatross Task Force with waterproof kit which will keep our instructors warm and toasty when they are at-sea! Páramo regularly support RSPB projects - contributing every time you buy here - and saving you money too.
The nominated ATF project focuses specifically on Namibia, which is one of the world's worst 'blackspots' for seabird mortality through interactions with fishing fleets. Research indicates that about 31,000 birds are killed every year by Namibia's long-line and trawl fishing fleets, including huge numbers of albatrosses and threatened species of petrel.
We will work with fishermen to raise their awareness of the problem and encourage them to use simple, low-cost measures to dramatically reduce this mortality. In addition, we will work with the Namibian government and fishing industry to implement national plans and policies to reduce seabird deaths.
Our aim is reduce seabird deaths by 50% by the end of the project (March 2014) and by at least 80% in the longer term.
So we need your help and it couldn’t be easier...
Please vote now and we can secure vital funding for ATF Namibia!
Thank you.
Image: thousands of birds are killed in Namibian fisheries each year, hauled on lines meant for fish - like these white-chinned petrels. Photo by John Paterson