Toroa Antipodean Albatross
Project Summary
They’re on the fast track to extinction – 2,300 of these birds are being lost each year. Their #1 threat is seabird bycatch through surface long-line fishing.
These deaths are preventable through the use of ‘3 out of 3’ proven mitigation techniques, including setting fishing lines at night, adding weights near each hook, and using a bird-scaring line or using a hook shield device.
Aotearoa is the albatross capital of the world, and the Antipodean albatross has become a symbol for the threat many seabirds face at sea.
Photo Credit / Richard Robinson
The Mighty Toroa
Sailors have a special connection with these enormous seabirds, with their enormous wingspan clocking in at over three metres and who inhabit in the wild and windy parts of the planet. These great ocean voyagers are the most threatened seabird group in the world, and the number one threat to them is accidental capture by the long lines from fishing boats.
Aotearoa is the albatross capital of the world, and the Antipodean albatross has become a symbol for the threat many seabirds face at sea. Unless we act immediately, we could lose this amazing bird.
Sentinel of the Ocean was generously produced at no cost by Taylormade Media for Live Ocean. The people and organisations involved have a shared belief in the critical role biodiversity plays in a healthy and resilient ocean. As well as being used to build awareness of the issues, it has been shared across schools around New Zealand as part of the Mātauranga platform.
The Antipodean albatross is the most threatened of New Zealand’s albatross species with Department of Conservation (DOC) estimates showing that an estimated 35,000 of these amazing birds have died since 2004.
They’re on the fast track to extinction.
“We can’t be the first country in the world to lose an albatross species. That’s not a race New Zealand should win.”
Blair Tuke
Founder – Live Ocean
THE IMPACT
In numbers
Antipodean albatross are being lost each year
threat to Antipodean albatross and other seabirds is longline fishing
seabirds die each year in the Southern Hemisphere on hooks set to catch tuna and swordfish
These deaths are preventable. Using the '3 out of 3' seabird-safe fishing techniques can prevent long-line fishing seabird bycatch
OUR IMPACT
This was our very first project and one close to our hearts. Since 2019 we’ve shone a light on the Antipodean albatross as well as raising funds for trackers, supporting a voyage to the Antipodes and co-funding a toolkit to help longline fishing fleets improve their seabird safe practices. So many people have leaned into this and believe like we do, that extinction is not an option.
Timeline
1994
First Expedition
Dr Kath Walker and Dr Graeme Elliott’s first expedition to the Antipodes islands, these research trips continue for nearly 30 years (barring 2006) giving an incredibly robust data set.
2006
Population in Freefall
Steep decline of the Antipodean albatross population observed by Kath and Graeme.
2019
Tracking to Understand
11 GPS satellite trackers funded by Live Ocean supporters to show where the albatrosses are feeding and where they‘re getting into trouble.
Nov 2019
Record-Breaking Journey
An albatross is recorded travelling 178,000kms in 9 months – that’s nearly halfway to the moon!
Feb 2020
Critically Endangered
Listed in Appendix 1 of the Convention on Migratory Species, the world’s most serious threat classification system for migratory species, alongside iconic species such as blue whales and snow leopards.
19 June 2020
Sentinel of the Ocean
Sentinel of the Ocean is released by Live Ocean for World Albatross Day, clocking over half a million views across the globe.
Sentinel of the Ocean was generously produced at no cost by Taylormade Media for Live Ocean. The people and organisations involved have a shared belief in the critical role biodiversity plays in a healthy and resilient ocean. As well as being used to build awareness of the issues, it has been shared across schools around New Zealand as part of the Mātauranga platform.
Summer 2020
Mass Satellite Tracker Deployment
Live Ocean supports the voyage to the Antipodes Islands for the largest ever deployment of satellite trackers on an albatross population New Zealand has ever seen.
Oct 2021
Sport with Purpose
Our founders, Peter and Blair met with Ambassador Fyfe and the Spanish Secretary of State for Sport Jose Manuel Franco to discuss the importance of “Sport with Purpose” and support for cooperation between New Zealand and Spain for the protection of seabirds in the Southern Ocean.
Oct 2021
The Black Foils use their sporting platform to bring the Antipodean albatross into the global spotlight by racing with an albatross on the wing of their F50 in Cadiz, Spain.
Dec 2021
Bilateral Agreement Signed
The New Zealand and Spanish Governments sign an agreement to address the conservation emergency facing seabirds that migrate across international waters, such as albatross and petrels.
Oct 2022
Feature on Frozen Planet II
BBC Frozen Planet II goes to air including a six-minute segment featuring the Antipodean albatross, narrated by David Attenborough. This series captured the attention of over one billion viewers.
Oct 2022
$170,000 raised for the seabird safe fishing toolkit at the New Zealand Nature Fund and Live Ocean charity auction.
Aug 2023
The Seabird Safe Fishing Toolkit was presented at an Asia-Pacific Economic Convention (APEC) meeting in Seattle, USA. The toolkit was co-sponsored by China, Chinese Taipei, Peru and Chile.
Jun 2024
A Win for Seabirds in Aotearoa!
The government announced New Zealand will adopt gold-standard techniques which will virtually eliminate seabird bycatch from surface long-line fishing in New Zealand waters.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
- Learn about the issue, talk to friends, politicians, restaurants and supermarkets.
- Start asking for albatross-safe tuna to show your concern.
- Be discerning. Support fishers using albatross-safe fishing methods.
Dr Kath Walker & Dr Graeme Elliot
Scientists, Department of Conservation
Dr Kath Walker and Dr Graeme Elliott have been employed with the Department of Conservation (DOC) and predecessor organisations since the 1980s and volunteered much of their own time to furthering ecological research and conservation initiatives.
Their research has significantly expanded New Zealand’s knowledge of its endangered birds and the threats to them.
Kath and Graeme have monitored the health of albatross populations in the subantarctic annually since 1991, much of it in their own time. Through this, they discovered both Gibson’s and Antipodean albatross populations were in a critical condition and have worked to alert others and to find solutions.
Both Kath and Graeme have been appointed as Officers of the New Zealand Order of Merit for their services to wildlife conservation.
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