The 19th Session of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission’s Scientific Committee was held in Victoria, Mahé, Seychelles over 01-05 December.

The Albatross and Petrel Agreement was represented by Anton Wolfaardt, Convenor of its Seabird Bycatch Working Group.  The Scientific Committee considered a number of seabird-related recommendations from the Working Party on Ecosystems and Bycatch (WPEB), which met in September this year (click here).  One of the key recommendations from the WPEB was that when the IOTC Seabird Conservation and Management Measure (Resolution 12/06 On reducing the incidental bycatch of seabirds in longline fisheries) is next reviewed, the line-weighting specifications be updated to conform with the latest ACAP advice.  It further recommended that the two hook-shielding devices recommended by ACAP as best-practice measures be incorporated into a revised IOTC Seabird Conservation and Management Measure as additional mitigation options for use in IOTC fisheries operating south of 25°S (the area of application of Resolution 12/06).

Following consideration of these matters, the Scientific Committee endorsed the WPEB recommendations regarding ACAP’s best-practice advice, and in so doing have provided scientific support for a proposal to update Resolution 12/06.  Such a proposal would need to be submitted by an IOTC Contracting Party to the Commission for their consideration and final adoption.  The next meeting of the IOTC Commission will take place in May 2017.

Anton Wolfaardt, Convenor, ACAP Seabird Bycatch Working Group, 21 December 2016

She’s back!  ACAP Latest News has mentioned the World’s oldest known bird in no less than 25 news items over the last five years.  Now back on Midway Atoll at an estimated age of 66, Wisdom the Laysan Albatross Phoebastria immutabilis just keeps going with yet another egg laid, following on from at least nine chicks successfully fledged since 2006 (click here).

Wisdom this month with her latest egg, photograph from the US Fish & Wildlife Service

Wisdom and her mate in an earlier year, photograph by Pete Leary

Click here to see more of this season's photos of Wisdom.  Her current mate, Akeakamai (Hawaiian for “love of wisdom” ), has also been clocked in for the season.

Biologist Chandler Robbins, now 98, first banded Wisdom – as an adult -in 1956.  Among other oldies, ACAP’s Information Officer enters his eighth decade next month – let’s hope Wisdom follows suit in 2020.

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 20 December 2016

Genevieve Jones (FitzPatrick Institute, University of Cape Town, South Africa) and colleagues have published in the journal Polar Biology on breeding of Wandering Albatrosses Diomedea exulans at South Africa’s Marion Island

The paper’s abstract’s follows:

“South Africa’s Prince Edward Islands support a large proportion (44 %) of the global Wandering Albatross Diomedea exulans breeding population, yet most breeding phenology data are recorded from smaller and geographically distant populations. Timing of breeding at Marion Island was remarkably constant across three successive years (2007–2009), providing a good baseline against which future changes can be assessed. Male (but not female) early arrival and presence at the colony during the pre-laying period was positively related to breeding success.  Earlier hatching chicks were more likely to survive, but timing of egg laying and incubation periods did not influence fledging success. Although there was considerable individual variation in breeding phenology, average dates of male arrival, laying and hatching were later at Marion (47_S), Crozet (46_S) and Kerguelen (49_S) than at more southerly Bird Island, South Georgia (54_S).  Earlier breeding at South Georgia may ensure that chicks have time to grow sufficiently to survive harsh winter conditions that set in earlier at South Georgia.”

Wandering Albatrosses - and the author - at Marion Island

With thanks to Genevieve Jones – and for mentioning me in the acknowledgements!

Reference:

Jones, M.G.W., Dilley, B.J., Hagens, Q.A., Louw, H, Mertz, E.M., Visser, P. &. Ryan, P.G. 2016.  Wandering Albatross Diomedea exulans breeding phenology at Marion Island.  Polar Biology DOI 10.1007/s00300-016-2042-7.

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 19 December 2016

*** The application period has been extended to 31 December 2016 ***

As part of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) GEF-funded Common Oceans Tuna Project (also known as the ABNJ Tuna Project), BirdLife South Africa is looking for a Fleet-based Training Co-ordinator to implement a series of National Awareness and Observer training workshops for countries with tuna longline fleets operating south of 25°S.

BirdLife South Africa is particularly interested in Mandarin-speakers, as much of its future work in this project element will involve close and regular liaison with the Chinese tuna longline fleet.

The position is based in Cape Town, South Africa, and preference will be given to applications from South African passport-holders or permanent residents.  However, other nationalities are welcome to apply, and because the post is administered under the FAO, a UN Laissez Passer passport can be arranged.  Family (including spousal) work permits cannot be arranged.

The closing date for applications is 31 October 2016.

Read more details and how to apply here.

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 10 October 2016, updated 16 December 2016