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The Task Force in Uruguay
I've always been fascinated by the sea, and originally wanted to be the captain of a small fishing vessel. What I actually ended up doing was slightly different.
I'm Martín Abreu, and you'll find me on board ships of the Uruguayan fishing fleet - not as the captain, but as part of the Alabtross Task Force in Uruguay.
The mixing of the Rio de la Plata freshwater estuary with the warm Brazil Current and the cold Falklands-Malvinas current, make Uruguayan waters very rich in nutrients.
This influx of nutrients and mix of waters make the region a huge feeding ground for seabirds, including the spectacled petrel, yellow-nosed and black-browed albatross.
Work already carried out be Proyecto Albatros y Petreles – Uruguay found that most seabird deaths are caused by the longline fishing fleets. This is, therefore, where most of my work is focussed.
We are working on-shore, and on ships, showing captains and crew the simple measures they can take to reduce seabird bycatch.
We have also produced a range of educational materials that highlight seabirds, turtles and other marine wildlife associated with the various fleets - we give these to all the vessels.
The Uruguayan Task Force team is employed by Proyecto Albatros y Petreles – Uruguay (PAP) and work closely with the National Programme of Observers Onboard the Tuna Fleet (programa Nacional de Observadores a Bordo de la Flota Atunera Uruguaya – PNOFA), the Pelagic Resources Department (Departamento de Recursos Pelágicos), and the National Direction of Aquatic Resources (Dirección Nacional de Recursos Acuáticos).
What can I do?
You don't have to travel all the way to Uruguay to find out more about the work of the Albatross Task Force.
Read the Task Force blog