Celebrating seabird success

The headline from this week's publication of Birdlife International's Red List for birds was bad news - more species threatened with extinction than ever before.

But there was some good news.  For example, the conservation prospects of two albatross species (Black-browed and Black-footed) have improved.

Black-browed Albatross, Grahame Madge (rspb-images.com)

Red Lists calculate the risk of a species becoming extinct.  They help gauge the scale of the conservation challenge and where to target finite conservation resources. 

Back in 2004, 19 out of the 22 species of albatross appeared in the top three categories of risk: Critically Endangered, Endangered or Vulnerable.  They were at a high risk of extinction primarily due to bycatch from long line fishing. 

The RSPB response was to work with Birdlife to find ways to encourage fishermen to catch fish rather than seabirds.  Thanks to the generosity of RSPB members and some major donations from a range of sources, we were able to recruit an Albatross Task Force working on board boats and to influence the rules governing the management of tuna fisheries around the world.

The results has been spectacular.  We have seen bycatch rates reduce dramatically in fisheries where we have been working (for example, there has been a 90% reduction in bycatch in some South Africa fisheries).  And, this has played a significant part in the down-listing in threat status in some species.

The table below shows how the threat to albatrosses has shifted over time.  Today, just 15 out of 22 species now appear in the top three extinction risk categories.

In less than a decade, the Birdlife International Global Seabird Programme has helped deliver brighter prospects for some of our most iconic seabirds.  There is still much to do - especially to extend conservation efforts to Asia.  The team invovled are a committed and inspirational bunch and I know they will not stop until they can guarantee a positive future for all 22 albatrosses.

Hats off to the team for all their efforts.