THE ALBATROSS

THE ALBATROSS: EXPERT HUNTER, SYMBOL OF LUCK, OCEAN SENTINEL

By: Zada Boyce-Quentin, Seawords Editor

“And a good south wind sprung up behind;/The Albatross did follow/and every day, for food or play/Came to the mariner’s hollo!” In one of Coleridge’s most notable works, “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner,” he describes the tendency of the albatross to trail after vessels at sea. This habit is responsible for their designation as a favorable omen, protecting sailors and signaling good fortune. Beyond this, the albatross has achieved notoriety among seabirds for their massive wingspans of up to 11 feet, which allows them to quickly traverse long distances without rest, and their prowess as hunters, able to detect the smell of fish from over 12 miles away. It is these qualities that distinguished them to Henri Weimerskirch and his team as the perfect operatives for a unique mission: detecting ships at sea.

Pew Research estimates that around 20% of the world’s seafood catch is obtained illegally by unreported fishing vessels. This can have a myriad of negative effects, from preventing accurate data for fisheries management to the use of contraband gear which frequently creates bycatch and damages ecosystems. In order to avoid detection, illegal fishing boats will turn off their tracking devices, meaning that their movements cannot be followed by the authorities. This is where the albatross comes in. Weimerskirch and his fellow researchers attached electronic data loggers to two species of albatross; Diomedea exulans (wandering albatross) and Diomedea amsterdamensis (Amsterdam albatross). These loggers pick up radar signals from boats; as albatrosses near a ship, the logger records the bird’s location and the number and position of vessels in the area. 169 albatrosses living on islands in the south Indian Ocean were involved in the study; these ‘Ocean Sentinels’ picked up thousands of radar signals from over 350 ships. Analysis of the results led to the discovery that 28% of boats overall were sailing unreported, and in international waters, that number jumped to over one-third of vessels. While not every ship that has its location devices off is engaging in illegal activity, unsanctioned fishing is a rampant problem with many marine casualties. The study also provided new data about albatrosses themselves, which the researchers believe will be useful to inform new conservation strategies. David Kroodsma, the research director at Global Fishing Watch, has high hopes for the use of albatrosses as ‘Ocean Sentinels’.

Fishing boat surrounded by albatrosses. By: MariaCarla F. Flickr. D. exulans. By: Ed Dunens, Flickr.

D. amsterdamensis. By: stormpetrel1, Flickr.

The ability of these birds to track ships could allow authorities to more effectively locate and catch illegal fishing vessels, as well as provide data to discover long-term hotspots and patterns for unreported marine activities. The use of albatrosses for this mission is especially poignant, as seabirds are frequently one of the most affected victims of bycatch. This is particularly true when deep-sea and longline fishing are involved; birds often get caught on the hooks and are unable to escape. Tens of thousands of seabirds fall prey to longline fishing each year, and these numbers are far higher for illegal fishing boats, which do not employ the already scant protections in place to reduce bycatch. Albatrosses are particularly vulnerable to bycatch, as they are typically the first to hone in on fishing vessels, and thus most likely to be caught. Their low reproductive rate and long life spans mean that the loss of large numbers of breeding adults is especially dangerous for overall numbers. Eight species of albatross are currently endangered or critically endangered. This is hugely problematic for a number of reasons beyond the immediate danger posed to an incredible animal. Not only do declining populations of albatrosses adversely affect marine ecosystems, but seabirds are crucial indicator species, or species whose health and numbers can provide a metric for how the ecosystem as a whole is faring. As the effects of climate change come into full force, seabirds, who are typically sensitive to environmental changes, will be more essential than ever in measuring the health of the ocean and its many denizens.