02/03/2005 - Our migratory
waterbirds, albatrosses and petrels will be
better protected thanks to $1.3 million in
funding from the Australian Government's $3
billion Natural Heritage Trust.
Australian Minister for the Environment and
Heritage, Senator Ian Campbell, today said
the money would be spent over two years on
a range of conservation activities.
"The increase in threats to waterbirds
and seabirds is of major concern, and we need
practical, coordinated solutions to halt their
decline," Senator Campbell said.
"More than two million migratory waterbirds
visit this country each year through the East
Asian-Australasian Flyway. The Australian
Government recognises the importance of regional
cooperation throughout the Flyway, so we've
proposed - along with the Government of Japan
and Wetlands International - to develop a
Migratory Waterbird Partnership.
"Representatives from 20 countries and
other organisations recently met in the Republic
of Korea, and agreed this Partnership would
be valuable for migratory waterbird protection."
The Natural Heritage Trust funding announced
today will also be used for activities such
as migration research, population monitoring
support, publications and the creation of
a new national wildlife conservation plan.
Waterbirds include many groups such as shorebirds,
waterfowl (ducks and geese), seabirds (terns
and gulls) and others (herons and egrets).
Shorebirds are the main group of migatory
waterbirds in the East Asian-Australasian
Flyway that regularly visit Australia.
Senator Campbell said that albatrosses and
petrels also need our help, with 83 per cent
of the total 24 species of albatross considered
endangered.
"These magnificent birds are threatened
globally at sea and on land, by some fishing
operations, entanglement in marine debris
and pollution. The Australian Government has
provided $300,000 for scientific research
into seabird behaviour and ecology, with some
of the funding to go towards an intensive
satellite tracking program," he said.
"It will also be used to examine the
distribution of Flesh-footed Shearwaters,
a major component of bycatch in Australia's
open sea tuna fisheries."
Senator Campbell said the Australian Government
would continue to address seabird deaths in
longline fisheries through its Threat Abatement
Plan, which is currently being revised. Australia
was the first nation in the world to develop
this type of plan within its national legislation.
Around 19 of the 24 species of albatross occur
in Australian waters, with five - the Black-browed
Albatross, Wandering Albatross, Shy Albatross,
Grey-headed Albatross and Light-mantled Sooty
Albatross - also breeding here.
