The Prince of Wales is putting his weight behind a global campaign to save the albatross from extinction.
The Save the Albatross campaign, an alliance of conservation organisations in more than 100 countries, aims to eliminate the mass slaughter of seabirds by longline fishing.
British-based Birdlife International, which is spearheading the campaign,
believes longlining is the single biggest threat to the albatross.
The birds drown after taking baited hooks on longlines.
Fishing boats flying flags of convenience and engaged in illegal or pirate fishing in the Southern Ocean are particularly to blame.
The organisation says that unless pirate fishing is stamped out, species such as the black-browed albatross will continue dying at a rate of tens of thousands a year.
The black-browed albatross, the commonest albatross species, breeds in small numbers on some subantarctic New Zealand islands as well as on islands off Chile and Argentina.
The birds are often caught on southern bluefin tuna longlines in New Zealand waters, says the Department of Conservation.
In December, more than 300 seabirds, including 11 albatrosses, were killed by a commercial New Zealand longline vessel fishing for ling on a six-week voyage.
In a speech in London giving his support to the Birdlife International campaign, Prince Charles said the estimated deaths of more than 300,000 seabirds a year by longlining in the world's waters was a dreadful situation.
He said 17 species of albatross were now globally threatened.
"In 1994 one-third of all albatross species were threatened as a result of longlining. By 2000 it was two-thirds.
"The world's seabirds desperately need support.
"If things go on as they are, some of them, including some of the most beautiful and majestic of all the world's birds, will be driven to extinction."
In the South Island, a newly hatched royal albatross chick under 24-hour care after its male parent smothered it at Taiaroa Head near Dunedin has died.
It was one of the first to hatch this breeding season at Taiaroa Head, home to the only mainland colony of endangered royal albatrosses.
This year 19 eggs have been laid at the colony. Most are due to hatch.
- NZPA
Bird Life International
Albatrosses NZ
nzherald.co.nz/environment
