MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Falklands “save the albatross” appeal.

An urgent appeal has gone out from the Falkland Islands for an international campaign to halt the drastic decline in the world's biggest population of black-browed albatross caused by modern fishing methods. The environmental charity, Falklands Conservation, has issued a warning that the albatross is rapidly becoming a global “vulnerable” species.

Its latest research reveals a dramatic decrease in Falklands breeding pairs of this beautiful bird, down 76,000 from 458,000 in 1995 to 382,000 now. The most staggering decline of 41,200 has occurred at the largest albatross colony , on Steeple Jason Island, a nature reserve to the north west of the Falklands. These figures confirm fears raised last year by a survey of the second largest breeding site on Beauchene Island.

Albatross are especially vulnerable to long line fishing. They die when they swoop down to seize the bait, get hooked, dragged underwater, and drowned. Large-scale fishing also competes for their food.

An albatross expert with Falklands Conservation, Dr Nick Huin, says: "Illegal and unregulated fisheries around the world are having a disastrous effect". He has called for urgent action to control widescale pirate fishing and protect the birds with every possible mitigation measure. Fatalities can be greatly reduced by weighting the lines properly and flying streamers to frighten off the albatross.

Brazil, Uruguay and Argentine fishing threat

Falklands albatross travel vast distances during their winter migration. Satellite tracking shows they are exposed to threats from long-line fishing for tuna and toothfish in Brazilian, Uruguayan and Argentine waters as well as international waters. Dr Huin says safeguarding these birds requires huge international agreement and co-operation.

Prince Charles recently called for their protection. His brother, the Duke of York, is Patron of Falklands Conservation, which has stepped up its appeal for funds to continue its 20-month long investigation, backed by the Falklands Government and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. It urgently needs another £10,000 (15,000-dollars) to establish the precise reasons for the steep decline and promote measures to halt the trend.

The Falklands fishery is respected as one of the best managed in the world with a responsible attitude to seabirds. But there is no control when the birds fly far out to sea and fall victim to 'pirate' fishing in the Southern Ocean by illegal, unregulated longliners sailing under flags of convenience which kill huge numbers of seabirds.

The plight of the bird