Buller's Albatross by Michael Porter

In 2006, conservationists working together with the RSPB and Birdlife International created the Albatross Task Force. Since then, their campaign to save the albatross has become a remarkable success.

“One of nature’s largest birds was being killed by long-line fishing. Off the coast of South Africa and in the Southern Ocean, albatrosses were snatching at baited hooks being fed into the sea from the back of long-line boats fishing for tuna and swordfish. Swooping down to seize the bait, the birds swallowed the hooks, were dragged under the waves and drowned. And with the huge increase in tuna fishing, an albatross was being killed every five minutes.”

This long-line fishing threatens 19 of the world’s 22 albatross species. They were being killed much faster than they could produce young. A number of factors contributed to this. Albatross only breed once fully mature which can take up to two years. They also only have one chic at a time, and some only breed every two years.

Despite all the odds, the Albatross Task Force has been able to reduce albatross deaths by 85%!

Visit their website to learn how you can support the Albatross Task Force.

[Majesty at Sea]