Wandering Albatross breeding on Heard Island: a top predator in the Southern Ocean; photograph by the late Gavin Johnstone

Sophie Bestley (Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia) and colleagues review open access in the journal Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution on the roles of seabirds and marine mammals in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean.  The study forms a contribution to the first Marine Ecosystem Assessment for the Southern Ocean (MEASO) of the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR).  "The primary aim of MEASO is to assess the risks to Southern Ocean marine ecosystems from climate change and related change processes."

The paper’s abstract follows:

The massive number of seabirds (penguins and procellariiformes) and marine mammals (cetaceans and pinnipeds) - referred to here as top predators - is one of the most iconic components of the Antarctic and Southern Ocean. They play an important role as highly mobile consumers, structuring and connecting pelagic marine food webs and are widely studied relative to other taxa. Many birds and mammals establish dense breeding colonies or use haul-out sites, making them relatively easy to study. Cetaceans, however, spend their lives at sea and thus aspects of their life cycle are more complicated to monitor and study. Nevertheless, they all feed at sea and their reproductive success depends on the food availability in the marine environment, hence they are considered useful indicators of the state of the marine resources. In general, top predators have large body sizes that allow for instrumentation with miniature data-recording or transmitting devices to monitor their activities at sea. Development of scientific techniques to study reproduction and foraging of top predators has led to substantial scientific literature on their population trends, key biological parameters, migratory patterns, foraging and feeding ecology, and linkages with atmospheric or oceanographic dynamics, for a number of species and regions. We briefly summarize the vast literature on Southern Ocean top predators, focusing on the most recent syntheses. We also provide an overview on the key current and emerging pressures faced by these animals as a result of both natural and human causes. We recognize the overarching impact that environmental changes driven by climate change have on the ecology of these species. We also evaluate direct and indirect interactions between marine predators and other factors such as disease, pollution, land disturbance and the increasing pressure from global fisheries in the Southern Ocean. Where possible we consider the data availability for assessing the status and trends for each of these components, their capacity for resilience or recovery, effectiveness of management responses, risk likelihood of key impacts and future outlook.”

With thanks to Richard Phillips.

Bestley, S. et al. 2020.  Marine Ecosystem Assessment for the Southern Ocean: seabirds and marine mammals in a changing climate.  Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution doi: 10.3389/fevo.2020.566936.

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 23 November 2020

A Manx Shearwater close to fledging at its burrow mouth, photograph by Jaclyn Pearson

Martyna Syposz (Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, UK) and colleagues have published in the in the Journal of Avian Biology on fledging direction of Manx Shearwaters Puffinus puffinus.

The paper’s abstract follows:

“The first solitary migration of juvenile birds is difficult to study because of a low juvenile survival rates and sometimes long delays in return to the breeding grounds. Consequently, little is known about this crucial life event for many bird species, in particular the sensory guidance mechanisms facilitating the first migratory journey. Initial orientation during the first migration is a key measure to investigate these mechanisms. Here, we developed an assay to measure initial orientation as flight direction upon first take‐off in nocturnally fledging juvenile seabirds. We dorsally deployed a coloured LED on juvenile birds to allow researchers to observe the vanishing bearings of individuals as they flew out to sea. Additionally, we co‐deployed either a small Neodymium magnet or glass bead (control) on top of the bird's head to investigate the use of magnetoreception, previously unexplored in this early life stage.

We used this assay to observe the first flight of Manx shearwaters (Puffinus puffinus) and found that they did not orient towards their wintering ground straight after taking off. Further, we did not find an effect of the magnetic treatment on juveniles’ flight direction, though whether this is due to the birds not using magnetoreception, other salient cues being available or a lack of motivation to orient to the migratory beeline is unclear. We were, however, able to identify wind direction and topography as drivers of first flight direction in Manx shearwaters, which fledged with wind component between a crosswind and a tailwind and directed their maiden flight towards the sea and away from the land.

This novel assay will facilitate the study of the maiden flight of nocturnally fledging birds and will help advance the study of sensory guidance mechanisms underpinning migratory orientation in a wide range of taxa, including species which are traditionally challenging to study.”

Reference:

Syposz, M., Padget, O., Wynn, J., Gillies, N., Fayet, A.L. & Guilford, T. 2020.  An assay to investigate factors influencing initial orientation in nocturnally fledging seabirds.  Journal of Avian Biology doi.org/10.1111/jav.02613  doi.org/10.1111/jav.02613.

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 21 November 2020

Hooked White-chinned Petrels come aboard a Namibian longliner in 2012 before bird-scaring lines became mandatory in 2015, photograph by John Patterson

Namibia’s combined demersal longline and trawl fisheries for two species of hake Merluccius has this week received a five-year certification of sustainability from the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC).  The combined fisheries catch around 160 000 tonnes annually.  Stock assessments are shared with neighbour South Africa’s MSC-certified (since 2004) hake trawl fishery as the fish is considered to represent a single stock.  There is 100% fishery observer coverage in the trawl fleet and approximately 50% on the smaller longline vessels (which have less capacity to for observers).

The Albatross Task Force in Namibia has also worked with the fishery, sending its own observers to sea to record seabird bycatch and compliance with mitigation measures, and co-ordinating the manufacture by women and training in the use of locally-made bird-scaring lines (BSLs).  These efforts have reduced the levels of bycatch of albatrosses and petrels.  Use of BSLs to a required design and deployment are now mandatory in Namibia’s hake fishery, with regulations promulgated in 2015 to reduce the incidental by-catch of seabirds in the Namibian hake demersal trawl (No. 269) and hake demersal longline (No. 270) fisheries (click here).  Notably, “best-practice” night setting and line weighting as recommended by ACAP are not prescribed for the longline fishery.  Prior to adoption of the regulations, Namibia had high numbers of seabirds (especially Vulnerable White-chinned Petrels Procellaria aequinoctialis) killed by its fisheries with an estimated 30 000 birds killed by the combined fisheries in 2008 (click here). Seabird bycatch has now been greatly reduced according to the MSC’s Final Draft Report on the Namibia hake demersal trawl and longline fishery – although problems do remain with compliance.

“ATF-Namibia works with the hake demersal longline and trawl fisheries, consisting of 13 and 56 vessels, respectively, operating out of the ports of Walvis Bay and Lüderitz.  In 2019/20 the team spent 129 days sea observing seabird mortality from fishing vessels and undertook outreach activities that included training workshops, distribution of seabird identification guides and beach clean ups” (click here).   “There’s been strong progress in seabird bycatch reduction in the fishery, but there are some outstanding elements that need to be addressed,” explained Titus Shaanika, Seabird Bycatch Mitigation Instructor from the Albatross Task Force Namibia.  “We’ll continue assisting and collaborating with the Namibian Hake Association and the entire Namibian fishing industry regarding seabird bycatch data collection and mitigation measures.”

Namibia has produced the text of a National Plan of Action – Seabirds, but it seems it has not yet been officially adopted by the government.

Read more about the new certification here and here.

References:

Control Union 2020.  Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) Final Draft Report Namibia hake demersal trawl and longline fishery on behalf of Ministry of Marine Resources (MFMR) and the Namibian Hake Association (NHA) Prepared by Control Union UK Ltd.  Lymington: Control Union UK Ltd.  383 pp.

Paterson, J.R.B., Yates, O., Holtzhausen, H., Reid, T., Shimooshili, K., Yates, S., Sullivan, B.J. & Wanless, R.M. 2017.  Seabird mortality in the Namibian demersal longline fishery and recommendations for best practice mitigation measures.  Oryx 53(2): 300-309.

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 20 November 2020

The Critically Endangered Waved Albatross needs our help, painting by Birgit Bührlé, from a photograph by Laurie Smaglick Johnson

Applications are sought to undertake a secondment under the ACAP Secondment Programme for the purpose of building capacity within Parties, and as a means of achieving tasks within the current work programmes of the Advisory Committee (see Annex 4 AC11 Report) and Secretariat (see Annex 5 AC11 Report).

Applications will only be accepted from ACAP Parties.  Applicants are encouraged to develop proposals that account for the practical challenges and limitations associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.

The proposed secondment should meet the following criteria:

1. The work to be undertaken addresses a task or tasks identified in the Advisory Committee’s or Secretariat’s Work Programme, and/or is deemed to be of high importance to achievement of the Agreement’s objective.
2. The work proposed is international in nature (i.e. the outcomes will be of relevance to more than one country).  However, this does not preclude secondments to a host institution within the applicant’s country of residence, provided the international relevance of the capacity building is clear.
3. The funds allocated will not be used for the purpose of paying applicants’ salaries.  It is expected that the applicant’s institution will continue to pay the applicant’s salary.  However, funds may be used to contract a suitable professional to develop/present a training webinar or online workshop.
4. The task to be undertaken has a capacity-building focus.
5. The funds allocated will generally be used for travel, accommodation and per diem costs, but can also be used for online training activities including one-on-one mentoring, enrolment in a training course from a reputable educational institution, organisation of webinars/online workshops, and other relevant activities which enhance ACAP capacity.
6. The applicant has received in-principle agreement from the host or collaborating institution to participate in this work.

Applicants are encouraged to contact the Working Group Convenors, the Advisory Committee Chair, Vice-chair, or the This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to discuss their proposal.  Secondment Application Forms are available in all Agreement languages from the ACAP website.

Completed applications are to be submitted to relevant ACAP National Contacts who will then forward them to the ACAP Secretariat.

Applications containing all signatures and endorsements must be received by the Secretariat by close of business on Tuesday, 2 February 2021.  Applicants will be advised of the outcome of their application by Tuesday, 23 March 2021.

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Waved Albatrosses, Galapagos Islands, photograph by Antje Steinfurth

ACAP Secretariat, 18 November 2020