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Seabirds, and other marine wildlife species, have been in the news this week. Firstly albatrosses came under the spotlight thanks to top level talks on tuna fishing and its impact on seabirds . Scientists gathered in Brazil on Monday to agree fishing quotas in the Atlantic. RSPB marine conservationist...
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We saw burly great skuas powering their way through the stiff breeze. Snow-white gannets sliced the air and tickled the waves with their wingtips. Pilot whales appeared from the depths, a jet of spray came from a sperm whale and a pod of common dolphins joined us to surf our bow wave! I saw lots of new...
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Pack away the barbecue, the sunshade and the suntan lotion - the promise of a hot and sunny summer is disappearing quicker than you can put your umbrella up. But for one seabird visitor to our shores, the recent cooler temperatures have been just the ticket. The kittiwake colony at Seaford's Splash...
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'I love going out on the boat at this time of year and talking to people about the brilliant wildlife you can see off the coast of Wales,' enthused Becky Clews, our People Engagement Manager in Wales, when I chatted to her recently about how the Wildlife Island cruises had gone. According to...
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With our Firth of Forth Seabird Cruises over for another year, I caught up with Angela Newton, Seabird Cruise Co-ordinator, to find out how they went: '2009 has proved to be yet another successful year for our seabird cruises. Over 1,200 passengers joined us onboard the MV Maid of the Forth for spectacular...
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'Wow' and 'amazing' are words often over used, but last Wednesday I couldn't stop them from continually spilling out of my mouth in my excitment at seeing so many seabirds and their fluffy chicks. You see I was at our Bempton Cliffs nature reserve , and was bowled over by the whole...
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I am back to land after 22 days at sea and lots of fishing. This cruise gave me the opportunity to share important information with the crew of FV Yamaia III about keeping as many seabirds as possible safe. The fishing ground was between 23° to 26°S latitude and 37° to 44°W longitude...
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During the later half of June it was off to sea again on the Irvin & Johnson wet-fish trawler, the Stevia. Once again I was looking at making the tori lines (bird scaring lines) work their best to prevent seabird deaths. Naturally, winter is the season when seabirds are most abundant in our waters...
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My first day finally arrived with some anticipation but also with some excitement. This was the day I was to set sail onboard a commercial trawler for the first time. This was my training trip for my new job as an Instructor for the South African Albatross Task Force Team. After two trips to sea had...
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I spent time at sea for my first trip as an instructor onboard a 35 m longline vessel. The trip was short, lasting just eight days, so we only managed to set three lines before returning to port. During my time onboard, I discussed the need to reduce the access of the seabirds to the baited hooks while...
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Firstly I would like to say that I am very pleased to be part of such important team as the Albatross Task Force and very proud to be chosen among so many candidates. I felt very happy and enthusiastic to start my task in Itajaí port! I had the opportunity to go on the Brazilian Research Vessel...
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It seems ages ago now, but it was in April last year that Samantha Petersen and I sat down one evening to draft the proprosal to set up an Albatross Task Force (ATF) in Namibia. The death rate of seabirds in Namibian waters is unacceptable. Last year, a report, The Benguela Current Large Marine Ecosystem...
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I've been at sea for 20 days. I have so much news to tell! We left Santos on June 6 and sailed to the Brazilian south coast. The sea conditions were so calm they permitted me to contemplate the beautiful days and sunsets during two days of sailing it took until we reached the fishing area. The longline...
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Hi albatross fans! It's been a long time since the last time I wrote. Too much 'dry land' business which confined me to my mother city. However, we had a visit from Ben Sullivan, manager of the Global Seabird Programme. It was really great to finally meet the guy who runs the show. Lots of...
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There are only two commercial harbours in Namibia: Walvis Bay to the north and Luderitz in the south. Sandwich harbour, a former fishing port, is now a proclaimed Ramsar site (i.e. a site designated for international protection due to its wetland wildlife importance). But, Walvis Bay is where we are...