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title: "The Second World Seabird Conference gets going today in Cape Town, South Africa"
---

# The Second World Seabird Conference gets going today in Cape Town, South Africa

The Second World Seabird Conference ([WSC2](http://www.worldseabirdconference.com/)), with the overall theme “Seabirds: Global Ocean Sentinels” is being held this week in the [International Conference Centre](http://www.cticc.co.za/) in Cape Town, South Africa. The formal programme starts today, following on from a welcome reception held in the centre yesterday evening.

 ![](https://www.acap.aq/images/stories/acap/Logos/WCS2_banner.jpg) 

 The [programme](http://www.worldseabirdconference.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/WSC-Program-2015.WEB_final.pdf) of talks in parallel sessions and of over 200 posters, along with their [abstracts](http://www.worldseabirdconference.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/WSC2-Abstract-Book.pdf) may be found on the conference website.

  ![](https://www.acap.aq/images/stories/acap/Birds/Albatrosses/G/Grey-headed Albatross by Rowan Treblico.jpg)

 Grey-headed Albatrosses, photograph by Rowan Treblico

 Of specific interest to the Albatross and Petrel Agreement are two sessions on fishery bycatch and a workshop on tackling seabird bycatch in small-scale fisheries. A session on international agreements and seabird conservation will also be held with ACAP making two presentations to it.  The Agreement is also presenting a poster that details its website as a growing resource for information on procellariiform research and conservation.

 WSC2 is being hosted by the [African Seabird Group](http://www.seabirds.net/african-seabird-group.html) and the [World Seabird Union](http://www.seabirds.net/wsu.html).  The Local Organizing Committee is chaired by Ross Wanless ([BirdLife South Africa](http://www.birdlife.org.za/)'s Seabird Division Manager and African Seabird Group Chair).  The Scientific Programme Committee Chair is [Peter Ryan](http://www.fitzpatrick.uct.ac.za/docs/peter.html) (Director, [FitzPatrick Institute](http://www.fitzpatrick.uct.ac.za/), University of Cape Town).

 The [First World Seabird Conference](http://www.worldseabirdconference.com/past-conferences/) was held in in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada in September 2010 with over 800 registered attendees from more than 50 countries.

 *John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 27 October 2015*