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The Task Force in Argentina
Hi, I'm Leo Tamini.
I've already spent plenty of time aboard fishing boats, having done my dissertation on penguin bycatch associated with the Argentinian trawl fishing fleet.
I therefore jumped at the chance to be part of the Task Force in Argentina, and help save albatrosses facing the same problems.
Our work in Argentina sees us working with the industrial bottom trawl fisheries.
This style of fishing uses nets (trawls) that are dragged along the sea floor, and is a problem for seabirds not because it uses hooks, but because there are so many cables associated with the nets. Cables (called warp cables and net sonde cables) are used to not only tow the nets, but to also tow a device for receiving information from equipment mounted on the net.
Albatrosses and members of the petrel family forage with outstretched wings. Unfortunately, when they are attracted to food waste thrown from the back of the boat their wings become entangled in the warp and net sonde cables. They are then dragged under the water and drown.
Black-browed albatrosses are the most commonly caught species in these waters.
The waters off Argentina are of great importance to foraging albatrosses and petrels throughout the year. Our work is all about understanding and developing solutions to reduce seabird deaths in this region.
When not at sea, you will find me giving community talks - raising awareness of the threats seabirds face.
What can I do?
You don't have to travel all the way to Argentina to find out more about the work of the Albatross Task Force.
Read the Task Force blog