PROTECTION OF THE MARINE ECOSYSTEM

Far from the public glare, a massive slaughter of seabirds has been occurring on the high seas. The use of long-line fishing techniques, especially to catch tuna, is resulting in the death of more than 44,000 albatross every year. This has put the survival of at least six species at risk. Three of these albatross species are now considered endangered--the Short-tailed Albatross, the Amsterdam Albatross and the Wandering Albatross.

What is even more unfortunate is that most of these seabirds often die as by-catch, getting entangled in the hooks intended for catching tuna. Attracted to the fishing boats and the bait of fish and squid used by fishermen to catch tuna, these birds swallow the bait and subsequently drown.

Australian government agencies have come up with a Threat Abatement Plan, involving WWF-Australia as a member of the coordinating team, to prevent this destruction. At present the plan revolves around three major issues--determining the extent of the by-catch problem, the ecology of albatrosses, and research into managing fishing techniques. Work to develop by-catch mitigation devices, such as tori poles (streamers that scare birds from the sinking baits), and night-setting is being carried out with some success.

WWF-Australia has also played an important role in the development of the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary that aims to build a safer place for whales in the southern hemisphere. The sanctuary will provide protection to many of the world's great whales--more than 90 per cent of them--in their important Antarctic feeding grounds. Six of the seven species of great whales that migrate to the southern ocean to feed have been reduced to small remnant populations by the whaling industry. The whale sanctuary, together with a properly managed Antarctic fishing agreement, would help the Antarctic marine ecosystem recover from years of over-exploitation.

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Copyright 1996, The World Wide Fund For Nature