S.O.S. – Save Our Seabirds
 Tony Palliser
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Albatrosses and petrels are the wanderers of the oceans, travelling huge distances daily in search of food. You might think that the open oceans are one of the few safe places left on earth for birds, far away from man's activities. But think again. They now face a new threat, the devastating impact of long-line fishing, a practice which results in the death of more than 300,000 seabirds per year. These long-lived birds reproduce very slowly, so such losses are not sustainable.
Since 1997 BirdLife International has been monitoring the situation. Twenty-two species of seabird are now globally threatened – including 17 albatross species. More governments need to sign and ratify the international conservation agreement on long-lining that BirdLife has been helping to shape. We also need better solutions for the diminishing fish stocks of the high seas and long-term investment in our fisheries, taking steps to rebuild some of their natural abundance and resilience.