Introduction

The Albatross and Petrel Agreement has chosen the theme "Plastic Pollution" to mark the fourth World Albatross Day, to be celebrated on 19 June 2023.  This follows the inaugural theme “Eradicating Island Pests” in 2020,  “Ensuring Albatross-friendly Fisheries” in 2021, and “Climate Change” last year.

Albatrosses are affected by a range of pollutants, of which plastics, whether ingested and then fed to chicks or causing entanglements, are certainly the most visible and well known to the general public.  However, albatrosses face other significant pollutants, including heavy metals, (such as mercury) and POPs (persistent organic pollutants, such as insecticides).

Two new albatross species are being used to feature the theme for this year’s World Albatross Day, with artworks, posters, infographics and a music video.  These are the globally Endangered Northern Royal Albatross D. sanfordi, endemic to New Zealand, and the abundant and widespread Black-browed Albatross Thalassarche melanophris.  In addition, coverage is being given again to last year’s featured species, the Black-footed Phoebastria nigripes and Laysan P. immutabilis Albatrosses of the North Pacific, which ingest more plastic (and then feed it to their chicks) than do the southern hemisphere species.

The 12 posters in English, with French and Spanish versions to come soon, are being made freely available below for printing during the build up to World Albatross Day on 19 June.  ACAP requests it be acknowledged in their use for conservation purposes. They should not be used for financial gain.

With grateful thanks to photographers Sharyn Broni, Wieteke Holthuijzen, Caren Loebel-Fried, Hob Osterlund, Georgina Strange, Erin Taylor, Oscar Thomas, Michelle Thompson and Eric vanderWalt for their support of albatross conservation.

John Cooper, Emeritus Information Officer, Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels,  14 February 2023, updated 10 March 2023

English Posters

Black-browed Albatrosses

 

 

 

Black-footed Albatrosses

 

Laysan Albatrosses

 

 

 

Northern Royal Albatrosses