For more than two decades, one of the aims of the BirdLife International Marine Programme, hosted by the RSPB, has been to reduce seabird deaths caused by interactions with fishing gear. The goal remains to mitigate and where possible, eliminate bycatch in some of the world’s deadliest fisheries. To provide an insight into what it is like to be a member of the international marine team, Yasuko Suzuki shared some of her thoughts and experiences with the RSPB’s Cintia Baranyi.
Yasuko's enthusiasm and commitment to seabirds has developed into a lifelong dedication to the conservation and preservation of these unique species. Today, as a Senior Marine Specialist at BirdLife International, Yasuko actively engages with key stakeholders including, the public, supply chain representatives, government fishery advisors, and fishing communities in Japan to support reduction of seabird bycatch on the High Seas and in Japanese waters.
Yasuko Suzuki – Senior Marine Specialist, BirdLife International. © Yasuko Suzuki.
Can you tell us how you first became involved with this work?Before joining BirdLife International in 2018, I worked in academia in the US for 16 years, studying seabirds. For most of that time, my research focussed on conflicts between seabirds and fisheries. Although the project was not directly related to bycatch, I was always interested in this critical conservation issue, as it is one of the top three threats to seabirds globally. Over the years, I developed a strong desire to work for seabird conservation at an international level. So, joining BirdLife’s Marine Programme to focus on the bycatch issue was a dream come true!
Do you have a top seabird sighting that holds significant importance to you?A Laysan Albatross sighting at Ka’ena Point on Oahu, Hawaii. The species breeds there and the birds are commonly seen by locals and tourists. But for me, it was the first time I had seen an albatross. On a hike up to the colony, a Laysan Albatross suddenly appeared, soaring high along the edge of the state park, probably returning from a foraging trip at sea to feed its hungry chick. I was in awe of its beauty and large wingspan. There were very young fluffy chicks in the colony guarded by their parents and I, of course, enjoyed observing them. In later years, I got to see Short-tailed Albatross and Black-footed Albatross breeding on the Bonin Islands in Japan. Any sightings of albatrosses are memorable, but the first sighting in Hawaii has remained the most special one to me.
On the Bonin Islands, Yasuko was fortunate to see Black-footed Albatrosses among other species. © Yasuko Suzuki.
What fascinates you about seabirds, particularly albatrosses, and if you have a favourite species, would you share it?Albatrosses’ ability to fly very long distances fascinates me. They spend about 90% of their lifetime at sea and travel over vast oceans across borders. Imagine life like that!
If I must pick only one favourite species, it’s the Wandering Albatross. I manage the Japanese version of Albatross Stories, a public outreach program through social media that shares updates and photos from the British Antarctic Survey stationed in South Georgia.
The breeding season of Wandering Albatross is much longer than other albatross species nesting on Bird Island, South Georgia, which provides more time to connect with individual birds through information shared directly from the field. I feel attached to adorable Wandering Albatross chicks, and so does our audience in Japan. This connection is so important to engage the public and drive their desire for action to protect albatrosses from threats.
Yasuko manages the Japanese version of Albatross Stories, a public-outreach programme through social media that shares updates and photos from the British Antarctic Survey stationed in South Georgia – including stories about species such as the Wandering Albatross shown here. © Rosie Hall.
What aspect of your role do you like the most?I get to work with so many people, all with different backgrounds and perspectives. This, of course, poses a lot of challenges, but it is all the more rewarding when common ground is found, and we can work together to tackle seabird bycatch. I like all aspects of my work, but I particularly enjoy working directly with fishers. They know so much about the ocean and are the ones who can protect seabirds from getting hooked by or entangled with fishing gear.
Through your work, what do you hope to see happen for albatrosses?I hope to see albatrosses complete their lives with much fewer negative impacts from human activities. They are long-lived animals. A good example is Wisdom, a female Laysan Albatross on Midway Atoll who is at least 71 years old! Albatrosses don’t start breeding until several years after fledging and lay only one egg per year, some only lay one every other year. Because of this, once their numbers decline due to threats facing them, it’s hard for the populations to recover quickly.
Many albatrosses are getting killed due to bycatch in fisheries. Some species of albatrosses may go extinct if the current bycatch rates don’t improve. However, there are simple and scientifically proven techniques to minimize the problem. To reduce bycatch, many stakeholders need to work together, which is what my colleagues from the team and I are working on.
Wisdom, the Laysan Albatross is at least 71 years old. © Oli Prince.
How would you inspire the public to think about their impact on the environment and support conservation work?I believe the community becoming more interested in where their food comes from and how it was harvested is a great and relatively easy action to take, leading towards reducing our impact on nature. The same applies to seafood on our plates. Knowing more about where fish come from and how they are caught. This information can help educate us on what to choose when we shop or eat out. Also, asking retailers if their sourcing policy includes anything related to bycatch reduction in fisheries is a great way for the community to support our work. Consumer opinions can drive the supply chain to take meaningful actions towards more sustainable fisheries and reduce impacts on marine ecosystems, including seabirds.
Any final thoughts you would give to someone wishing to engage in the conservation field?I think passion and consistency helped me get where I am now. When things became very challenging, reminding myself of my childhood dream and working towards it, even if it felt like small steps at the time, worked well for me. I still do the same to this date when I face challenges! Also, building a network with people in the field of similar interest while attending conferences, etc., and letting them know the next steps I wanted to take have been quite helpful. Looking back, bits of advice from those in the network were critical at some of my turning points.
The BirdLife International Marine ProgrammeThe BirdLife International Marine Programme, hosted by the RSPB, is dedicated to the protection of seabirds and the wider preservation of marine ecosystems. Through collaboration with a global partnership the programme conducts important research on seabirds and marine ecosystems, identifying conservation needs and coordinating grass roots action. As a team, they support design and designation of protected areas, advocate for sustainable fisheries, and take action to reduce seabird bycatch. The programme empowers local communities in conservation efforts, and their global collaboration ensures a coordinated approach to marine conservation worldwide.
Find out more about the work of Yasuko Suzuki and other members of the BirdLife International Marine Programme: • Saving Seabirds Globally• Albatross Stories Blog• Albatross Task Force on X/Twitter
The BirdLife International Marine Programme, hosted by the RSPB, is dedicated to the protection of seabirds and the wider preservation of marine ecosystems. © Alastair Wilson (rspb-images.com).
Continue reading• World Seabird Day – protecting biodiversity in the High Seas• World Tuna Day 2023 - how seabird safe is the tuna we eat?• A view from the waves – how we’re working with retailers to make seafood safer for seabirds
Want our Conservation Action blogs emailed to you automatically? Click the cog in the top right of this page and select 'turn blog notifications on' (if you have an RSPB blog account) or 'subscribe by email'.