American Bird Conservancy Seabird Program

1. American Bird Conservancy Seabird Program Jennifer M. Arnold, Ph.D. Program Director jarnold@abcbirds.org

2. ABC’s Seabird Program focuses on eliminating the greatest threats to seabird populations Via work with: government, NGOs, and researchers in conservation, education, and advocacy.

3. Photo by C. Johnson Major issues #2 #1 Fisheries related mortality #2 Invasive species #3 Marine debris #4 Contaminants #3 Photo by B. Keitt #1 #2 Photo by F. and K. Starr Photo by G. Robertson

4. Selected Program Goals Goal #1: Protecting seabirds from bycatch-related mortality Goal #2: Stopping lead poisoning of Laysan Albatross at Midway Atoll NWR Goal #3: Eradication or control of damaging invasive plant and animal species Goal #4: Raising awareness and developing/ implementing conservation and research priorities

5. Goal #1: Protecting seabirds from bycatch related mortality Mortality in longline and other fisheries may be the greatest threat facing albatrosses and other seabirds Photo by F. Olmos Photo by P. Ryan Photo by F. Olmos

6. FAO and National Plans of Action 1999 United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization requested that all longline nations assess their fisheries and, if a seabird bycatch problem existed, develop a National Plan of Action to reduce seabird bycatch (NPOA)

7. Status of National Plans of Action in the Western Hemisphere • United States – Complete (2001) • Chile – Complete (2003) • Brazil – Complete (2006) • Canada – In Progress (Target date 2007) • Argentina – In Progress (Target date (draft) 2007) • Uruguay – In Progress (Target date (draft) 2007)

8. Status of National Plans of Action in the Western Hemisphere • Peru – assessment in progress • Mexico – assessment to begin • Ecuador – assessment to begin • Venezuela - ?? • Columbia - ?? • Panama- ?? Photo by G. Wallace

9. Increased in Activity to Address Seabird Bycatch • Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels- ACAP (2004) • International Fisher’s Forum (since 2000) • Regional Fisher’s Forums (South America 2006) • Regional Workshops and educational programs • Skipper Exchanges

10. Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels

11. Magnuson-Stevens ActUS Fisheries Legislation Reauthorization • Mandatory regionally-based bycatch reduction programs (within 1 year) • Incentive programs to reduce total bycatch and seabird interactions • Coordination on projects to improve information and technology (national and international) • Annual reporting to Senate and House Committees regarding progress and activities

12. Other ABC Activities Towards Reducing Seabird Bycatch • Lobbying regional fisheries management councils and other governance bodies in the US and abroad. • Supporting multi-stake holder workshops to develop solutions to seabird bycatch • Assisting countries in developing bycatch assessment programs and developing and implementing solutions to bycatch problems

13. Technical Documents

14. Goal # 2: Stopping poisoning of Laysan Albatross at Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge Photo by M. Finkelstein Photo by M. Finkelstein

15. Solution Complete removal of lead-based paint from all buildings Price tag: 5.6 to 6 Million USD 2006 Budget $100,000 (USD) Current efforts are underway to use this $100,000 to remove paint from 3-5 priority buildings

16. Current and Future Work • Advocacy: • Working to obtain appropriations for clean up in the 2008 Budget • Raising awareness (media, “Albatross Action” campaign, congressional visits) • Research (M. Finkelstein et al.): • Population level impacts • Improving estimates of lead-related mortality Photo by M. Finkelstein

17. Areas where the Waterbird Council might be of assistance • Obtaining the necessary funding and helping to build partnerships to begin/enable assessments of fisheries in Mexico and Ecuador. • Encouraging the United States to sign the Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels (ACAP) • Supporting our efforts to remove lead-based paint from buildings on Midway. Photo by G. Wallace