After the successful and speedy conclusion of the negotiations of the Albatross Agreement under the CMS, a signing ceremony is to be conducted on 19 June in Canberra, Australia.  All twenty-three Range States of Southern Hemisphere albatrosses and petrels, have been invited. 

The Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels was established to address the threats posed to albatross and petrel populations by by-catch in long-line fisheries, a sense of urgency existed due to the significant numbers of birds being lost each year.  Under this Agreement 21 Albatross species and 7 Petrel species will be protected.

The Agreement on the conservation of albatross and petrels was finalised after only two negotiating sessions and adopted by consensus. It is clear from the rapid consensus reached that there is a high level of international concern about the conservation status and vulnerability of these species, and commitment to implement an international instrument to help return them to a favourable conservation status.

Recognising the importance for the future Secretariat to be located in the Southern Hemisphere, particularly given the current focus of the Agreement, Australia offered to continue Interim Secretariat functions until the final location of the Permanent Secretariat is decided at the first Meeting of the Parties. Australia's offer to host the Depository of the Agreement was also welcomed.

Why do we need an Agreement focused on albatross and petrel conservation?

The purpose of the international Agreement is to establish a cooperative and comprehensive framework and process to restore albatrosses and petrels to a favourable conservation status. The Agreement aims to stop or reverse population declines by coordinating action to mitigate known threats to albatross and petrel populations.

The key potential benefits arising from the development of the Agreement may be summarised as follows:

· coordinated action to mitigate known threats to albatross and petrel populations;
· coordination of data collection, analysis and dissemination of information;
· assessment of the international and regional conservation status of albatrosses and petrels and threats to the species; and
·communication of the conservation status of albatrosses and petrels to relevant international and regional bodies to promote action.

The conclusion and implementation of a multilateral Agreement through coordinated and cooperative actions will contribute significantly to the conservation of albatross and petrel species and their habitats.

While individual nations are taking measures to protect albatrosses and petrels, international action rather than unilateral action is required. Albatrosses and petrels are susceptible to threats operating throughout their range and it is unlikely that conservation action by one nation will be effective. Australia views international cooperation on aspects of albatross and petrel conservation, such as exchange of information on threats, would enhance the prospects for successful conservation measures.

Please find below a link to the website for the Agreement on the

Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels.

http://www.ea.gov.au/biodiversity/international/albatross/index.html

The website contains background information on the Agreement and its development, copies of the Agreement text in English, French and Spanish, the reports for both the Hobart and Cape Town meetings in all three languages and a fact sheet.