Save the albatross

What we're doing

The Task Force in Chile

Rodrigo Vega, Albatross Task Force member in Chile

Hello. I'm Rodrigo Vega, and am very passionate about finding and researching ways to reduce accidental albatross deaths.

I've been working on swordfish fishing vessels for the past three years, sailing between Coquimbo (Chile), Juan Fernandez Archipelago and Easter Island.

The swordfish fleet in Chile consists of around 17 vessels, which go to sea for a month at a time. It is estimated that these fleets set 3.3 million fishing hooks each year.

Until now, very little work has been done with this industry, either in the form of studies, or mitigation work. However, evidence suggests that black-browed and grey-headed albatrosses (both of which breed in Chile) are frequently killed in this fishery.

Non-breeding albatrosses from New Zealand, including northern and southern royal, antipodean, Buller's, Chatham, and Salvin's albatrosses, plus white-chinned petrels, wandering and grey-headed albatrosses from South Georgia also frequently visit this region to forage.

What the Task Force will be doing:

  • working with and educating swordfish skippers - getting to know them personally and inviting them to take part in courses
  • producing educational materials, so crews can identify albatross species
  • talking to crews about their legal responsibilities to protect seabirds
  • training observers within the fishing fleet. These fishermen will develop and pass on their skills to others within the fleet, complementing the work of Task Force members

What can I do?

You don't have to travel all the way to Chile to find out more about the work of the Albatross Task Force.

Read the Task Force blog

What can I do?

Help us equip fishermen with specially designed streamers to prevent albatrosses from being hooked and killed.

What can I do?

Could you be a Patron of the Albatross Task Force and be instrumental in stopping the extinction of albatrosses?