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THE Australian government last week announced that it had succeeded in having
11 species of albatross which occur in the Southern Hemisphere listed under the
Bonn Convention which covers the conservation of migratory animals. The
government claims that the birds will now have greater protection. Australia’s
case was based in part on the information contained in a newly published book,
The Status of Australia’s Seabirds. It says that 44 000 albatrosses are
taken each year in the southern oceans by longline fishing. The book, based on
the proceedings of a workshop held back in 1993, is available for $22
from Environment Australia (phone 06 250 0717) or from the Botanical Bookshop
(phone 06 257 3302).