6 May 2002
New Zealand Welcomes Spain's Support For Measures To Conserve Albatross And Petrels
Conservation Minister Sandra Lee today applauded Spain’s decision to add its support to an international agreement aimed
at reducing the impact of long-line fishing on endangered albatross and petrel.
"Spain is the first major fishing nation to sign the international Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and
Petrels. New Zealand and Australia have led the way in ratifying the agreement, which is designed to provide countries
around the world with the information and techniques necessary to protect these threatened migratory birds.
“Spain’s support of this agreement is of great significance. As a major fishing country and as producers of long-line
fishing gear, Spain’s commitment to this agreement is a major step forward in efforts to institute safe seabird
practices worldwide.
“New Zealand has more albatross and petrel species than any other country and many migrate to other parts of the world
where they are caught and killed by long-line fishing fleets.”
Ms Lee says the agreement is of vital importance to the conservation of migratory birds. “I urge other fishing nations
to support the protection of albatross and petrel by adding their signatures to the agreement.
"Scientists estimate that about quarter of a million seabirds from breeding grounds in the Southern Ocean have died in
the last three years as a result of longline fishing practices in the Southern Hemisphere.
"There are 47 albatross and petrel species that breed in New Zealand, 20 of which have breeding grounds only in New
Zealand. The rarest of these endemic albatross is the Chatham Albatross which breeds on a single rock stack and has a
world population of only 5000 pairs."
Spain’s Ambassador Jose Ramon Baranano signed the agreement on behalf of his country in Canberra last week. In addition
to Spain, New Zealand and Australia, five other countries are also signatories to the agreement: Brazil, Chile, France,
Peru and the United Kingdom.
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