Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels

To achieve and maintain a favourable conservation status for albatrosses and petrels. Member States are Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, France, New Zealand, Norway, Peru, South Africa, Spain, the United Kingdom, and Uruguay.

Species of Concern: Black-footed albatross (Phoebastria nigripes); Laysan albatross (Phoebastria immutabilis); Short-tailed albatross (Phoebastria albatrus); Balearic shearwater (Puffinus mauretanicus); Pink-footed shearwater (Ardenna creatopus); Black-browed albatross (Thalassarche melanophris); Northern giant petrel (Macronectes halli); Southern giant petrel (Macronectes giganteus)

Restrictions

Member States must:
1. Conserve and, where feasible and appropriate, restore habitats important to albatrosses and petrels.
2. Eliminate or control non-native species detrimental to albatrosses and petrels.
3. Develop and implement measures to prevent, remove, minimize, or mitigate adverse effects of activities that may impact albatross and petrel conservation status.
4. Initiate or support research into effective conservation of albatrosses and petrels.
5. Ensure appropriate training exists for implementation of conservation measures.
6. Develop and maintain programs to raise awareness and understanding of albatross and petrel conservation issues.
7. Exchange information and results from albatross, petrel, and other relevant conservation programs.
8. Support implementation of the FAO International Plan of Action for Reducing Incidental Catch of Seabirds in Longline Fisheries, where it complements this Agreement.
9. Prohibit the deliberate taking of, or harmful interference with, albatrosses and petrels, their eggs, or their breeding sites.
10. Progressively implement the Action Plan.

Allowed

1. Exemptions to the taking/interference prohibition may only be granted where no other satisfactory course of action exists, and only for: (a) propagation, re-establishment, or survival of albatrosses or petrels; (b) selective and limited scientific, educational, or similar purposes; (c) traditional needs and practices of indigenous peoples; or (d) other exceptional circumstances.
2. In exceptional circumstances that are not short-term emergencies, a prior environmental impact assessment must be carried out and made publicly available before an exemption is granted.
3. All exemptions must be precise and limited in space and time, and must not operate to the detriment of albatross or petrel conservation status.
4. Parties granting exemptions must submit full details to the Secretariat as soon as possible.
5. Humane killing by duly authorized persons to end the suffering of seriously injured or moribund albatrosses or petrels does not constitute deliberate taking or harmful interference.