Cape Town Pelagics is run on a non-profit basis and over the last 8 years, we've donated over R 60,000.00 to Albatross research and conservation. One of the projects we've supported recently has been Birdlife International's Save the Albatross Campaign, of which the Albatross Task force is a part.

Read what BBC and Birdlife International report on Prince Charles meeting our guide Meidad Goren about the Albatross Task Force.

We're glad that through our pelagic trips we've been able to play our small role in helping to save Albatrosses, not only by direct donations, but also by raising awareness (for example for the Leap School Bird Club) and providing an opportunity for people to see Albatrosses and becoming inspired for conservation. We also take out Albatross researchers for free on research trips.

South African seabirds are threathened most notably by long-line fishing operations and oil spills. For more information on seabirds and conservation efforts, we strongly recommend a visit to the Animal Demography Unit's and their seabird resources pages. This excellent site offers resources on numerous pelagic and coastal seabird subjects.

Agreement for the conservation of albatrosses and petrels (ACAP)

Albatrosses are the bird family with perhaps the highest proportion of threatened species. Of the 21 species currently recognised, 20 are listed as threatened or near-threatened in the global red data list. The accidental capture of albatrosses, and petrels, by longline fisheries is the most significant single threat to albatross populations.

The ACAP agreement has been ratified by most of the countries who's activities or territorial waters overlap with the ranges of endangered procellariiform seabirds. As of June 2007, the total country ratification is at 11. ACAP is a multilateral agreement which promotes the conservation of albatrosses and petrels by coordinating international activities to mitigate threats to albatrosses and petrels.