World albatross day is celebrated by Fishing Development Institut and ACAP
June 17th, 2020
Chile belongs from its beginnings to the Albatross and Petreles Conservation Agreement (ACAP). Albatrosses have been one of the fishing bycatch activities most affected bird species, so international cooperation is necessary for their conservation. ACAP has established June 19 as World Albatross Day to raise awareness about these birds around the world.
Albatross, are large seabirds that dominate the southern hemisphere seas, in their feeding trips they can cover from New Zealand to Chile. Efforts for this group of birds conservation has led the States in which it is distributed to generate measures for their protection, at the same time cooperation between scientists and fishermen has been encouraged. Interactions with fishing operations and threats on land will be identified, as well as the implemented solutions.
Dr. Marco Favero, former ACAP Executive Secretary and current member of ACAP Populations and Conservation Status Working Group explained, “Albatrosses are globally threatened seabirds that require our urgent attention. Governments and decision makers must understand this urgency and deepen conservation actions that reverse the negative effects on these species and their habitats ”- https://www.conicet.gov.ar/
Luis Adasme IFOP researcher and ACAP Seabird Bycatch Working Group official member highlighted: “Since ACAP beginning Fisheries Development Institute has had an active participation in different multilateral meetings, showing the work and IFOP work in research around interactions between fishing operations and seabirds, this has allowed, over time, to broaden knowledge about this problem and raise awareness about the importance of mitigating effects of fishing on this species.group ”
In 2016, Chile hosted the 9th ACAP meeting organized by the Undersecretariat for Fisheries and Aquaculture and Fisheries Development Institute. IFOP Chief Fisheries Evaluation Department, Dr. Carlos Montenegro Silva, explained the role of the institute in this topic: “IFOP directly advises Fisheries and Aquaculture Undersecretariat, providing input information to prepare the national annual report. In addition, he is in charge of monitoring the National Action Plan (PAN-AM) and maintains constant monitoring of this issue through Main National Fisheries Monitoring Programs ”.
Among IFOP albatrosses,dissemination activities we can highlight various talks with fishermen, students and the community in general that aim to teach the population in a didactic and entertaining way about these magnificent birds and highlight the current conservation crisis that threatens them.
IFOP recently developed a seabirds guide and also launched a joint campaign with explora Valparaíso in which stands out ¿Why should we protect seabirds?
