Albatrosses and petrels, throughout all stages of their life history, are subject to an array of human-caused threats that have the potential to reduce their reproductive success and/or survival. In combination, these factors are placing the long-term viability of many species at risk. The incidental catch (or bycatch) of seabirds during longline- and trawl-fishing operations is considered the most significant threat to albatrosses. The smaller petrels are also threatened by introduced predators at many breeding localities. Other threats include human disturbance at the nest, chemical contamination, marine pollution and over-exploitation of food resources.

Although individual nations are taking measures to protect albatrosses and petrels, international cooperative action is also required. Albatrosses and petrels are susceptible to threats operating throughout their range and it is unlikely that actions by one nation alone will be effective in improving their global conservation status. International cooperation on albatross and petrel conservation thus enhances the prospects for successful conservation measures across their migratory ranges.

The Agreement ACAP, negotiated under the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), was opened for signature in Canberra, Australia on 19 June 2001. It entered into force on 1 February 2004. The Interim Secretariat is located in Hobart, Australia.

As a CMS Agreement, ACAP focuses on any species, subspecies or population of the albatrosses and petrels listed in Annex 1. It currently covers 19 species of albatrosses and seven species of petrels of the avian order Procellariiformes.

The ACAP Agreement is not geographically restricted, although up to now only species that breed in the Southern Hemisphere have been listed in its Annex 1. However, ACAP’s Advisory Committee is considering potential additions to the Annex, including the three albatross species that breed in the northern hemisphere. If these three species are included by ACAP’s Meeting of Parties, then all the world’s albatrosses will be listed in the Agreement.

As of January 2009, the membership of ACAP consists of 13 Parties. An up-to-date list of the Agreement’s Parties is found in its Agreement Summary Sheet. See also www.acap.aq.

The Agreement aims to stop or reverse population declines by coordinating action between Range States to mitigate known threats to albatross and petrel populations. To achieve this ACAP includes an Action Plan which describes a number of conservation measures to be implemented by Parties. Conservation measures to be implemented include research and monitoring, reducing incidental mortality in fisheries, eradicating non-native species at breeding sites and reducing disturbances, habitat loss and pollution.

The Agreement recognises that there are existing international instruments that contain conservation measures relevant to albatrosses and petrels, such as the Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources and the FAO International Plan of Action for Reducing Incidental Catch of Seabirds in Longline Fisheries. It also recognises the importance of building co-operative and coordinated working relationships with these and other organisations. For example, ACAP sees it can play an important role within Regional Fishery Management Organisations – by providing information on the distribution of albatrosses and petrels and their potential overlap with fishing effort, and by recommending appropriate mitigation measures that may be adopted to reduce seabird bycatch. In these ways, ACAP aims to ensure that existing international efforts are complemented and not duplicated.

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