'AS DEAD AS AN ALBATROSS?'..... Read it and weep.
The albatross – legendary protector of seafarers – is heading for extinction. Swordfish and tuna-fishing fleets are eliminating more than 100,000 birds each year. In a couple of decades most species will be wiped out unless urgent action is taken. Findings are based on a new generation of tracking units which monitor the behaviour of these giant birds. 'Our research has discovered that albatrosses are killed at a horrific rate,' said the British Antarctic Survey. 'The trouble stems from long-line fishing in which boats tow huge, heavily baited lines. The albatrosses try to eat the bait and are dragged down and drowned.'
The discovery that these birds are under threat comes as researchers – using tiny transmitters, which broadcast to satellites – are discovering how remarkable they are. Instruments have shown that albatrosses are capable of astonishing feats of endurance and navigation. They can fly round the world several times without stopping on land. During their lives, they fly the equivalent of 50 return trips to the moon: more than 10 million miles.
There are two dozen species of albatross, ranging from the wandering albatross, with its 12ft wingspan, to the relatively modest Mollymawk. Albatrosses mate for life and breed once every one or two years. Scientists now know that while rearing youngsters, parents undergo journeys of thousands of miles to find food. 'At first, we thought it was only the large albatross species that could do that,' said Croxall. 'However, we have now found that even the smaller species can fly for enormous distances.'
However, these vast distances increase the albatrosses' chance of encountering a fishing fleet from Taiwan and Japan. Many get tangled in mile-long lines laced with bait. Most fleet owners deny anything but the occasional death. However, recent data makes clear that more than 100,000 albatrosses a year may die in lines.
'The problem is that albatrosses breed relatively infrequently and only by the time they are 12 to 15 years old,' said Croxall. 'They used to live to around the age of 50, so that was not a great problem. But now they are being killed off before they can reach even half that age.' As a result, the birds do not have chance to repopulate.
Measures include weighting lines so they sink quickly and do not entice birds, setting lines at night, and setting off bird-scaring lines. 'All these measures are relatively simple to implement and cost only a few dollars,' Croxall said. 'However, unless there is some motivation, nothing will be done. We must convince fleet managers that it is worth their while.'
The albatross – legendary protector of seafarers – is heading for extinction. Swordfish and tuna-fishing fleets are eliminating more than 100,000 birds each year. In a couple of decades most species will be wiped out unless urgent action is taken. Findings are based on a new generation of tracking units which monitor the behaviour of these giant birds. 'Our research has discovered that albatrosses are killed at a horrific rate,' said the British Antarctic Survey. 'The trouble stems from long-line fishing in which boats tow huge, heavily baited lines. The albatrosses try to eat the bait and are dragged down and drowned.'
The discovery that these birds are under threat comes as researchers – using tiny transmitters, which broadcast to satellites – are discovering how remarkable they are. Instruments have shown that albatrosses are capable of astonishing feats of endurance and navigation. They can fly round the world several times without stopping on land. During their lives, they fly the equivalent of 50 return trips to the moon: more than 10 million miles.
There are two dozen species of albatross, ranging from the wandering albatross, with its 12ft wingspan, to the relatively modest Mollymawk. Albatrosses mate for life and breed once every one or two years. Scientists now know that while rearing youngsters, parents undergo journeys of thousands of miles to find food. 'At first, we thought it was only the large albatross species that could do that,' said Croxall. 'However, we have now found that even the smaller species can fly for enormous distances.'
However, these vast distances increase the albatrosses' chance of encountering a fishing fleet from Taiwan and Japan. Many get tangled in mile-long lines laced with bait. Most fleet owners deny anything but the occasional death. However, recent data makes clear that more than 100,000 albatrosses a year may die in lines.
'The problem is that albatrosses breed relatively infrequently and only by the time they are 12 to 15 years old,' said Croxall. 'They used to live to around the age of 50, so that was not a great problem. But now they are being killed off before they can reach even half that age.' As a result, the birds do not have chance to repopulate.
Measures include weighting lines so they sink quickly and do not entice birds, setting lines at night, and setting off bird-scaring lines. 'All these measures are relatively simple to implement and cost only a few dollars,' Croxall said. 'However, unless there is some motivation, nothing will be done. We must convince fleet managers that it is worth their while.'
