By Veronica Iriarte - On Wednesday we celebraed our fifth World Albatross Day! The Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels (ACAP) announced “Marine Protected Areas – Safeguarding our Oceans” as the theme for this year’s World Albatross Day.
Falklands Conservation (FC) has announced the launching of its new Darwin Plus-funded project for long-term restoration work on New Island Nature Reserve. New Island is one of the remotest islands in the Falklands archipelago, which runs a wildlife reserve and centre for scientific research, expected to considerably improve with the appointment of a new Bio-security and Invasives Manager.
Today Chile announced the creation of its newest marine protected area, the Diego Ramírez-Drake Passage Marine Park. Located in the Magallanes region, it is the southernmost park in the Americas and one of the last pristine areas in the world.
Globally, an albatross dies on a fishing hook every 5 seconds. Since working with Falklands Conservation from 1996-2005, biologist Becky Ingham has wanted to help prevent the decline of these iconic birds. The Hookpod is a clever new invention that catches fish, not birds and here Becky tells us how ot works.
The UK has launched a new Overseas Territories Environment and Climate Fund, which consolidates funds from the Foreign Office, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and Department for International Development, dedicated to environmental and conservation projects in those territories.
The July edition of the South Georgia Newsletter has an interesting comment on the recent announcement that the Falklands’ population of black-browed Albatross has seen a healthy increase in the number of breeding birds, information that has been submitted to BirdLife International for use in the Red List assessment process
The conservation status of the Falkland Islands Black-browed albatross could be down listed from endangered based on ground and aerial surveys carried out in 2010, ACAP* Coordinator Anton Wolfaardt reported to the Falklands’ Environmental Committee.
THE British Royal Navy and the company British International helicopters have been assisting Islander conservationists in vital surveys of the majestic Black-browed albatross in the Falkland Islands.