CONSERVATION

Anne Gray pioneered the regular monthly pelagic trips off Cape Point. These trips have contributed greatly towards an awareness of how special these birds are. Hundreds of birders have been able to view the flight, feeding and other habits of pelagic species, and have been made aware of the need to conserve the threatened birds.

BirdLife International's Save the Albatross Campaign

As many as 300,000 albatrosses and petrels could be killed in longline fishing operations worldwide. These majestic birds are drowned when they attempt snatch baited hooks being deployed from the stern of the vessels. The weight of the longline drags the birds beneath water, drowning them. Globally, more than a billion hooks are set each year on lines that are often more than 100 km in length. The sheer size of the global longline fleet is resulting in unsustainable amounts of albatrosses being killed. Consequently, 22 species of albatrosses and petrels are threatened with extinction, mainly as a result of longline fishing.

However, simple solutions exist for reducing the bycatch of seabird to acceptable levels. BirdLife International's Save the Albatross Campaign (www.birdlife.net/seabirds/) is working with the fishing industry, governments, fisheries management organisations and the public to see these measures implemented and improved where possible. The Campaign, which is co-ordinated from South Africa, is active in over 15 key countries and has focal points in Europe, North America, South America, Southern Africa, Asia and Australasia.

How can you help?

· Buy a limited edition poster of Peter Hall's magnificent oil painting The Wanderer. Price - South Africa - R100; Overseas - US$ 15, plus postage. Proceeds will be used to fund practical "hands-on" albatross conservation projects. To place your order please contact Leon Viljoen (lviljoen@savethealbatross.org.za).

· Make an online donation via www.birdlife.net

· Join the BirdLife partner in your country and add your voice to the Campaign (see www.birdlife.net for contact details)

If you wish to know more about the Save the Albatross Campaign, please contact the global co-ordinator, Leon Viljoen (lviljoen@savethealbatross.org.za)
or the scientific co-ordinator, Deon Nel (dnel@savethealbatross.org.za).