News Albatross Task Force

The Antipodean Albatross travels thousands of miles in search of food © Stephanie Borrelle

New tracking data pinpoints danger zones for...

Tue, 13/04/2021
Without action, the Antipodean Albatross could go extinct within our lifetimes. To prevent this tragedy, researchers satellite-tracked 63 albatrosses to discover where they encounter the highest accidental ‘bycatch’ in tuna fishing fleets. Find out how we’re working to make these danger zones safe.
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WorldwideNew Zealand

BirdLife International Marine Programme:...

Mon, 08/03/2021
Today, on Monday 8th March, we're celebrating International Women's Day. We're celebrating the incredible work of the Albatross Task Force women, whose dedication helps give our wonderful albatrosses a fighting chance. We recently caught up with some of them to find out more about what they do.
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Worldwide
The Waved Albatross' impressive wingspan helps is roam thousands of miles © Mike's Birds

Seabirds spend nearly 40% of time beyond national...

Wed, 03/03/2021
Scientists have found that albatrosses and large petrels spend 39% of their time on the high seas – areas of ocean where no single country has jurisdiction. How can we make sure these vital habitats don’t fall through the cracks?
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Worldwide
Atlantic Yellow-nosed Albatross (Endangered) in courtship display © Ben Dilley

Namibian fishery reduces seabird deaths by 98%

Thu, 07/01/2021
After over a decade of work with the country’s fishing industry, the Albatross Task Force in Namibia are celebrating a major conservation success. A new paper shows that seabird deaths in the Namibian demersal longline fishery have been reduced by 98%, which equates to 22,000 birds saved every year.
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WorldwideNamibia

Tracking Ocean Wanderers

Mon, 19/10/2020
The journey of Bird Island’s “modern wandering albatross” moves into its next phase! If you have been following #AlbatrossStories, you may remember one of our recent blogs where we pondered “What is it like being a modern wandering albatross?”
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Worldwide

World Albatross Day 2020 - In case you missed it

Mon, 29/06/2020

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Worldwide
Tristan Albatrosses performing their courtship dance © Nick Holmes / RSPB

Why we’re celebrating the first ever World...

Fri, 19/06/2020
Today, BirdLife is delighted to be part of the first ever World Albatross Day. But why is it so important that we raise awareness of this group of birds? Find out what makes them special, the threats they face, and how you can help.
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Worldwide
Wandering albatross on South Georgia

Living with albatross: Bird Island human stars –...

Mon, 30/03/2020
We continue our conversation with Alex Dodds, one of British Antarctic Survey’s albatross field assistants based on the frontline of albatross conservation, Bird Island in South Georgia. You can read part one here, where Alex explained what it was like sharing your neighbourhood with albatrosses, penguins and seals!
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Worldwide
Juvenile Wandering Albatross wearing tracking device on Bird Island, South Georgia © Alex Dodds

New study: are teen seabirds safe?

Wed, 05/02/2020
Seabirds have an exploratory adolescent phase, often looking for food in ocean areas quite different to breeding adults. A new collaborative BirdLife study warns that current seabird protection measures should not neglect such crucial stages of seabird development.
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Worldwide
Aves Argentinas staff demonstrate bird-safe measures to fishermen © Albatross Task Force

Albatross Task Force in the Americas: working...

Wed, 29/01/2020
BirdLife's Albatross Task Force works with fishing crews on board their ships to introduce seabird-saving measures in focal countries. Here's an update of the programme's successes in the Americas.
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WorldwideArgentinaBrazilChile

Shy by name, not by nature: Shy Albatross...

Tue, 22/10/2019
For centuries, this albatross's slow and measured approach to breeding worked just fine. But now, facing new human threats, will this become the 16th out of all 22 albatross species to be listed as globally threatened?
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Worldwide
Grey-headed Albatross pair at Diego Ramírez archipelago, Chile © Cristián G. Suazo

Chile announces vital new regulations to protect...

Wed, 25/09/2019
At the end of last month, the Chilean Government took a vital and welcome step towards saving thousands of seabirds from being needlessly killed in their trawl fisheries by introducing new regulations making the use of mitigation measures mandatory.
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WorldwideChile

It’s not all plain sailing for seabirds, but with...

Fri, 07/06/2019
As we celebrate World Environment Day and World Ocean Day with #AlbatrossStories, we’re taking a look at a conservation tale of terrible decline, but one which we have the power to give a happy ending.
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Worldwide

News from Bird Island – Bobby has Fledged!

Thu, 30/05/2019
An incredible milestone for one of our #AlbatrossStories chicks.
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Worldwide

Obituary: Celso Rocha de Oliveira 1958-2019

Wed, 29/05/2019
A strong promoter of Hookpod trials and member of the Albatross Task Force in Brazil has passed away.
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Worldwide

Seafood certification scheme needs to step up...

Mon, 18/02/2019
New report shows that Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) sustainable seafood certification scheme needs to do more to tackle bycatch of threatened species in certified fisheries
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Worldwide

The tale of the albatross and the algorithm

Sun, 27/01/2019
This is a story about the albatross, one of the most iconic and endangered groups of birds, about industrial fishing in the remotest ocean regions that kills them, and an astonishing experiment in machine learning which may just help to save them.
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Worldwide
All photos © Albatross Task Force

Albatross Task Force leader wins major award with...

Thu, 01/11/2018
We interview the leader of the Albatross Task Force in Argentina, Leandro Tamini, who has won the Marsh Award for Marine Conservation Leadership, which recognises people or organisations having a profound impact on marine conservation.
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WorldwideArgentina