The Republic of South Africa is the fifth country to become a Party to the Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels (ACAP). With this new membership, ACAP will enter into force on the 1st February 2004. South Africa joins Australia, New Zealand, Ecuador and Spain as a Party to ACAP. A number of other countries are in the ratification process. South Africa played a key role in the negotiation of this global Agreement and is home to many important populations of albatrosses and petrels, including those on the sub-Antarctic Prince Edward Islands.

For more information on ACAP's 5th ratification:

Joint Media Release
Federal Minister for the Environment and Heritage
The Hon. Dr David Kemp
&
Australian Minister for Trade
The Hon. Mark Vaile

For more information on ACAP please visit the Australian Department of the Environment and Heritage website, which is actin as Interim Secretariat of the Agreement. Interim ACAP Secretariat Contact address: John Gorton Building King Edward Terrace Parkes ACT 2600 GPO Box 787 Canberra ACT 2601 Phone: +61 2 6274 1111 Fax: +61 2 6274 1666 Website:http://www.acap.aq/ Information on the Third International Albatross and Petrel Conference, IAPC, August 2004. Montevideo, Uruguay. South America: http://www.iapc2004.com