Guardian of albatross heads for NZ

A British adventurer who is sailing around the world in a bid to highlight the plight of the albatross and to draw attention to illegal fishing is expected to arrive in New Zealand tomorrow or on Friday.

Renowned sailor John Ridgway and his ketch English Rose VI will berth in Wellington.

Mr Ridgway and a volunteer crew left Scotland on July 27 last year.

After visiting Cape Town in South Africa, the crew began a voyage across the Southern Ocean, reaching Melbourne on December 14.

Two New Zealanders, Carol Knutson from Forest and Bird and Peter Lewis, joined the crew for the Tasman leg.

Ms Knutson said she felt "very privileged" to be part of the seven-leg voyage.

"Protecting albatross species and their environment is an international responsibility."

The voyage was a great opportunity to highlight the harm "pirate" fishing caused in the Southern Ocean.

An international petition to stop pirate fishing and save the albatross has been started as a consequence of Mr Ridgway's voyage.

- NZPA