🚀 go-pugleaf

                   (To be published) 

Southern Ocean 

ALBATROSS
The Australian Government has announced a major iniative to encourage
Albatross conservation. Over the next four years $AUS 1.13 million will be
used to develop a Recovery Plan for the Macquarie Island population of the
Wandering Albatross, declared endangered by the Australian Government last
year.
A "Threat Abatement Plan" designed to reduce albatross bycatch will also be
developed. These iniatives will only apply to longline boats operating in
Australian waters and does not apply to international fleets working beyond
the Australian 200 mile limit. 

The Environment Minister, Senator Faulkner, said that the Federal Labor
Government will "vigorously pursue the protection of albatrosses in all
relevant international fora including global environmental conventions".
Australia will be pressing for the nomination of all albatross species
under the Bonn Convention. Once listed, global protection measures must be
put in place.

Two of South Korea's largest distant-water fishing companies are reported
to be preparing to move into the southern bluefin tuna longline fishery.
Though not confirmed, such a move would raise the bycatch rate of albatross
and increase the rate of their decline.

Jon Sumby 
Sea Shepherd Conservation Society - Australia: Tel/Fax +61 3 9482 4668
                   <nonni@ariel.its.unimelb.edu.au>