Indian Yellow-nosed Albatross near Marion Island, January 2025, photograph by Laurie Smaglick Johnson

Ryan Reisinger (School of Ocean and Earth Science, University of Southampton, United Kingdom) and colleagues have published in the open access journal CCAMLR Science on data sources for seabird and marine mammal distribution in the southern Indian Ocean.

The paper’s abstract follows:

“Numerous seabird and marine mammal species occur, often in high abundance, in the subtropical and subantarctic zones of the southern Indian Ocean.  They breed, moult and rest at French, South African and Australian islands in the region and forage at sea in areas including the Exclusive Economic Zones of these nations, Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction and also the area to which the Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources applies.  Information on the at-sea distribution of these species is important for understanding ecosystem patterns and processes in the region, and is a key component of any spatial conservation and management frameworks.  Information on the distribution of marine predators is widely used to define priority areas for conservation and management, with several such initiatives already having been implemented in the extended Southern Ocean.  Seabird and marine mammal distribution has been studied mainly using two methods: animal-borne biotelemetry/biologging and at-sea sighting records.  Here, we give an overview of data on the distribution of marine mammals and seabirds – collected mainly through long-term tracking programmes at French and South African islands – with the aim of identifying data sources that can inform pelagic ecoregionalisation to support spatial conservation and management planning in this region.  We identify priorities for further distribution data collection related to life-history stages, sites and species and we identify broader challenges for understanding marine predator distribution in this region, towards spatial conservation and management planning.”

Reference:

Reisinger, R.R., Makhado, A.B., Delord, K., Bost, C.A., Lea, M.A. & Pistorius, P.A. 2025.  Towards higher predator ecoregionalisation of the pelagic zone in the subantarctic and subtropical Indian Ocean.  CCAMLR Science 25: 117-132.

John Cooper, Emeritus Information Officer, Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels, 22 August 2025

The megaherb Campbell Island Daisy Pleurophyllum speciosum on Campbell Island

Applications are now open for 2025/26 True Young Explorer Scholarships with new Zealan-based Heritage Expeditions.  The scholarships represent a reduction in the listed cost to travel to New Zealand and Australia's sub-Antarctic Islands as well as the remote Ross Sea Region of Antarctica.  Holders of scholarships are expected to contribute 30% of the advertised cost of the expedition, payable on confirmation of the scholarship berth.

“Every year Heritage Expeditions takes small groups of intrepid travellers on voyages to some of the world’s most unique and remote islands, coasts and shorelines aboard our purpose-built expedition ships.  Founded in 1984 by the Russ family in Christchurch, New Zealand, we are still proudly family-owned and operated contributing to conservation through experiential learning, providing funds for research and management, and our ongoing legacy of creating ‘ambassadors’ through our True Young Explorer Scholarships.

True Young Explorer Scholarships provide a limited number of younger people (aged 18 - 30 years) with the opportunity to join expeditions to experience our remarkable Subantarctic Islands at a fraction of what it would otherwise cost.  In doing so, our aim is to create a league of ‘ambassadors' inspired to help raise the profile and protect these precious areas, and the unique flora and fauna inhabiting them, for future generations.

To secure a scholarship, we are looking for individuals who are as passionate as we are about giving a voice to, and protecting, New Zealand and Australia's Subantarctic Islands and the Southern Ocean.  Whether you are studying science, an artist, in media, involved in community organisations, a teacher or ... we want to know how you will share your experience travelling aboard our expeditions on Heritage Adventurer alongside likeminded passengers and an incredibly experienced expedition team of naturalists, biologists and historians on the voyage of a lifetime.”

Read more here, including how to apply.  Applications close on 22 September 2025.

ACAP Latest News has featured a 2024/25 scholarship holder.  See “In the wake of Scott and Shackleton” - a photo and video essay by Mitchell Roberts.

John Cooper, Emeritus Information Officer, Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels, 21 August 2025

A Black-browed Albatross feeds its chick on Heard Island, photograph by Roger Kirkwood

During the 2025/26 austral summer, the Australian Antarctic Program will undertake two voyages to Heard Island and McDonald Islands (HIMI) using Australia's icebreaker, RSV Nuyina equipped with two helicopters and temporary field huts.  It will be first research visit to Heard Island in more than 20 years.  Surveys of breeding seabirds will include the ACAP-listed Black-browed Albatross Thalassarche melanophris and Southern Giant Petrel Macronectes giganteus.

“High pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI) has not yet reached Australia, Australian Antarctic Territory nor - to anyone's knowledge - either of Australia’s two sub-Antarctic island groups, Macquarie Island or HIMI.  However, affected animals have been found on the French Kerguelen and Crozet sub-Antarctic islands, which are only 450 km from HIMI.  Wildlife ecologist Dr Julie McInnes and her team are heading to Heard Island to survey seabird populations, map breeding colonies, and monitor signs of bird flu, working in collaboration with the seal survey team.”

Strict protocols will be in place to safeguard the environment, and all activities will be implemented in accordance with environmental permits.

Read more about the Heard Island 2025/26 survey here.

 John Cooper, Emeritus Information Officer, Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels, 20 August 2025

People's Choice in the 1st annual Art Contest held by the Friends of Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge.  Artwork by Brett Higgins

The Friends of Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge (FOMA) held its first art contest during June this year with submissions received up until the end of the month.  Everyone (including those living outside the USA) was welcome to participate.  “The goal of the contest is to solicit creative artwork that captures the cultural, historical, biological, or a mix thereof, essence of Kuaihelani (Midway Atoll) to share with our FOMA followers as well as to create merchandise, such as shirts, hats, stickers, posters, and note cards.  Revenue generated from sales will be used to support conservation, outreach, historical research, and/or cultural support on behalf of Kuaihelani."

1st Place: Ian Gonzalez

Design entries had to be contestants' original, hand-drawn creations and not be traced or copied from photographs or other artists' works.  No photography or Artificial Intelligence (AI) computer-generated art was accepted.  Judging was on the basis of design, depiction of native species within the lands and waters of Midway Atoll, if wildlife are portrayed, artistic composition, and suitability for reproduction on merchandise.

A total of 31 artworks was submitted,  judged by FOMA President Wayne Sentman, FOMA Vice President Helen Dunlap, FOMA volunteer Keelee Martin, Hawaiian artist and author Patrick Ching and Assistant Professor of Hawaiian language J. Hauʻoli Lorenzo-Elarco  Additionally, followers of the Friends Facebook group could vote for their favourite from 10 short listed artworks in a “People’s Choice Award".

2nd Place: Yun-Xuan Lin

FOMA writes “We are excited to see all the beautifully created artwork in honour of Kuaihelani (Midway Atoll).  Congratulations again to the winners: 1st Place: Ian Gonzalez; 2nd Place: Yun-Xuan Lin and Peoples' Choice: Brett Higgins.” All received a cash prize.  Applicants are being gifted a one-year Friends of Midway Atoll membership, giving access to FOMA annual meetings and will receive its regular newsletters.

John Cooper, Emeritus Information Officer, Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels, 19 August 2025