The Department of Conservation's deputy director-general of biodiversity says time is running out to save albatrosses, but an increase in government funding will go some way to increase protection efforts.
Photo: albatross.org.nz
Today is World Albatross Day.
Marie Long said work to protect the Antipodean albatross and other rare seabirds is being ramped up as part of the Government 2022 Budget investment.
Long said the Budget provided over $2 million to increase protection efforts over three years for threatened species such as the Antipodean albatross, black petrel, and Māui and Hector's dolphins.
The funding will be divided between international efforts, and work undertaken within New Zealand to protect these species.
"We can take action to reduce threats," said Long, "such as bycatch on longlines, in our domestic fisheries, but the fate of our albatrosses also sits with others.
"Seabirds do not recognise the boundaries between nations as they travel the oceans, so we must expand our horizons to protect them however we can, wherever they are."
Photo: Don Mammoser / 123RF
DOC said Aotearoa New Zealand is the seabird capital of the world, with the highest diversity of seabird species, of which 38 breed here and nowhere else.
Albatrosses and petrels are among the most threatened groups of birds globally.
It said seabirds were once abundant across the mainland but are now largely restricted to offshore islands.
DOC Marine Principal Science Advisor Igor Debski is working on the International Seabird Strategy.
"We have a role to play internationally to show leadership in mitigating seabird bycatch in fisheries. We have already formed partnerships with Chile and Spain, two major fishing nations, to protect the species we share between our shores.
"It is our focus to strengthen and expand our efforts to encourage international action."