[Birdbycatch] News bulletin-NMFS re. Torishima & AK seabird bycatch regs

[Elizabeth Ann Mitchell]

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Hello, I'm forwarding this from Kim Rivera of the National Marine
Fisheries Service.

Liz Mitchell, Seabird Bycatch Project

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Thu, 15 Aug 2002 15:13:48 -0800
From: Kim Rivera <Kim.Rivera@noaa.gov>
To: Seabird List <seabird@groa.uct.ac.za>
Subject: [SEABIRD] Volcanic Eruption on Torishima....Short-tailed Albatross

The following NMFS Information Bulletin is posted at
http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/

INFORMATION BULLETIN (02-65)                 August 15, 2002
Protected Resources Division                 2:10 p.m.
907-586-7235

         VOLCANIC ERUPTION ON TORISHIMA ISLAND, JAPAN,
SITE OF BREEDING COLONY OF THE ENDANGERED SHORT-TAILED ALBATROSS

On August 11, operators of a vessel sailing near Torishima Island
reported to the Japan Coast Guard that they witnessed white smoke
rising from the summit of the volcanic island, according to James
W. Balsiger, Administrator, Alaska Region, National Marine
Fisheries Service (NMFS).  The Japan Coast Guard has confirmed
the eruption and continues to monitor the volcanic activity.
Torishima Island is approximately 600 km south of Tokyo
(30=F828'48"N, 140=F818'22"E) and is the site of the main breeding
colony of the endangered short-tailed albatross (Phoebastria
albatrus).

The current world population of this endangered species is
estimated at approximately 1,680 individuals, according to Dr.
Hiroshi Hasegawa, of Toho University in Chiba, Japan.  Dr.
Hasegawa is the world's foremost expert on this rare albatross
species and recently returned from his 80th visit to Torishima in
May 2002.  He has estimated that about 1,415 birds are at the
main breeding colony on Torishima and about 260 birds at a
smaller colony on the Senkaku Islands.  On learning about the
Torishima eruption, Dr. Hasegawa was relieved that the
albatrosses were away from the island.  Their time on the island
is limited to the annual breeding season which occurs from
October through May.  Dr. Hasegawa is confident that the
Torishima population can survive by spending their life at sea
until the unpredictable volcanic activities cool off and allow
the birds to revisit their main breeding site.

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) issued a Biological
Opinion on the effects of the Alaska longline groundfish fishery
on the short-tailed albatross in 1999.  That Opinion addresses
direct, indirect, human-caused, and non-human caused effects,
including natural catastrophes such as volcanic eruptions.  The
Opinion states that "given the range of possible types and
magnitudes of volcanic eruptions, and the historical pattern of
eruptions on Torishima Island, a volcanic eruption of sufficient
magnitude and impacts to cause the species to drop below the
jeopardy threshold, is not reasonably certain to
occur....However, in the event of a major population decline as a
result of a natural environmental catastrophe...the effects of
longline fisheries on short-tailed albatrosses could be serious.
Such an event would represent new information and stimulate
reinitiation of this consultation."  NMFS and FWS are already
undergoing a section 7 consultation, thus any new opinion would
continue to reference potential impacts to the short-tailed
albatross population and would be updated with information
regarding this recent volcanic activity.

NMFS reminds fishermen that seabird avoidance measures are
required on most longline vessels fishing for groundfish or
halibut off Alaska.  The North Pacific Fishery Management
Council has recommended changes to the existing regulations to
include scientifically-proven methods that can reduce the
incidental catch of seabirds by 88 to 100%.  Although the new
regulations are pending, NMFS encourages fishermen to begin
using these new methods.

FWS and NMFS will continue to closely monitor the situation on
Torishima Island and comply with requirements of the Endangered
Species Act to protect this endangered seabird.

For further information contact Kim Rivera, NMFS's Seabird
Coordinator, (907)586-7424.

Web Links of Interest:

Photos of eruption and reports from the Japan Coast Guard:
http://hakone.eri.u-tokyo.ac.jp/vrc/erup/torisima.html

USFWS's Biological Opinion on Effects of the Alaska Groundfish
Fisheries on the Short-tailed Albatross:
http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/protectedresources/seabirds/grndbo99.pdf

North Pacific Fishery Management Council's Recommendations for
Changes to Seabird Avoidance Regulations (News Release):
http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/newsreleases/2001/01_22_akr.htm

Washington Sea Grant Program Report on Scientifically Proven
Seabird Avoidance Measures for the Alaska Fisheries:
http://www.wsg.washington.edu/pubs/seabirds/seabirdpaper.html

WSGP's Schematic on Effective Streamer Lines
http://www.wsg.washington.edu/pubs/seabirds/streamers.pdf

NMFS's Alaska Region Seabird Site:
http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/protectedresources/seabirds.html


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