It's time to rock and find out how well we're doing. I am preparing to go onboard the very first Brazilian Albatross Task Force research vessel.
The vessel is a normal fishing vessel with all its fishermen. However, it has also been booked by us to test their mitigation measures - both the tori lines (bird-scaring devices) and the blue baits (which make bait less visible to albatrosses). It's going to be fun!
The ship is allowed about 30 days at sea and about 10 fishermen will be with me in this mission. On 10 October, we set off from the Santos harbour and did a brief stop at the Itajai port to get some repair work done.
Then we set off for the high sea. While at sea, we did two sets of experiments in the location 44° 00 S and 31° 00 W. During the fishing operation, I saw various young wandering albatrosses. No birds were caught during the experiments.
All was going just well, when suddenly the boat generator broke down... we had to get back to Itajai again where I am just now waiting until the repairs get done.
But according to Captain Sandro, tomorrow we are able to go again to sea, probably to the great elevation of Rio Grande and to the Hunter Channel. These areas are great places to watch the third major species in risk of extinction, the Tristan albatross. They are great oceanographic places!
During the journey of the boat to the elevation, there is a depth of about 4,000 metres and a submarine mountain of about 300 m deep. It's going to be the third time I am going to this area and I hope to see these and other birds flying.
I will tell you more when I get back!