The treaty was finalized following a week-long meeting hosted by the South African Government in Cape Town, which included government representatives from albatross and petrel range states and nations with fishing fleets that interact with these highly threatened seabirds. ACAP promises to fill gaps in currently available conservation tools, addressing the urgent threats facing these magnificent, beleaguered birds. It's an agreement that holistically approaches albatross and petrel conservation.
Albatrosses are the most imperiled of all the world's seabirds.
Scientists fear that 26 species of albatross and petrel may soon become extinct unless firm steps are taken to reverse the destructive effects of uncontrolled longline fishing, pollution, habitat degradation, human disturbance of breeding sites, and introduced diseases and predators. About 50 percent of albatross populations contain fewer than 100 breeding pairs, making the birds extremely susceptible to random events or even low levels of mortality. Despite the existence of cost-effective mitigation techniques, the incidental mortality of seabirds in longline fisheries is considered the most critical threat facing albatrosses and petrels. This has contributed to the decline of several Southern Hemisphere species, and it also threatens the Northern Hemisphere's three albatross species. It also has the capability of being expanded to address the conservation needs of northern albatross species, which are also at serious risk.