Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels (ACAP)
Introduction
An international agreement to conserve albatrosses and petrels and provide science-based best practice advice.As the global hotspot for breeding albatrosses and petrels, New Zealand, along with 12 other nations where albatross and petrels breed, signed ACAP in 2001. The agreement was developed under the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals.
Parties agree to achieve and maintain, through co-ordinated and co-operative measures, a favourable conservation status for albatrosses and petrels.
Key elements include providing advice on fisheries bycatch mitigation and other threats, building capacity in all countries involved to improve the environment for albatrosses and petrels, and implementing a range of co-operative conservation, monitoring and information sharing actions.
Many species managed under the agreement are either endemic or native to New Zealand. All these species regularly leave New Zealand’s jurisdiction for long periods and are exposed to threats, particularly fisheries bycatch.