After the World Albatross Day (June 20th), the organization Aves Argentinas warned about the critical threats facing these seabirds in the Argentine Sea.
The NGO launched a campaign to expand the team of volunteers of the ECOFAM Program, which collects deceased specimens on the coasts to provide key data for scientific research.
The black-browed albatross: a symbol of sovereignty and biodiversity
Among the different species present, the black-browed albatross (Thalassarche melanophris) is the most representative of the Argentine coast. It nests in the Falkland Islands and travels throughout the Argentine Sea.
“Its aerial route acts as a bridge that crosses our waters. It is almost a form of defense of sovereignty,” said biologist Leandro Tamini, director of the Marine Program of Aves Argentinas.
Two major threats: invasive species and industrial fisheries
Tamini warns that albatrosses face two main threats:
1. Exotic species in reproductive colonies
- Rats, mice, cats, and even goats alter the habitat where they nest.
- These species destroy the environment or directly attack adults and chicks.
- “There are documented cases where several mice have been known to devour an albatross in a single night,” emphasized the specialist.
2. Incidental capture in fishing vessels
- The longliners, which deploy lines with thousands of hooks, are one of the main threats.
- Albatrosses die trying to feed and getting hooked.
- In the Argentine Sea, trawl nets also cause fatal collisions with rigging cables.
Although measures such as bird scaring lines have been implemented, mandatory since 2017 in part of the commercial fleet, Tamini warns that controls are insufficient: “The Fisheries Undersecretariat has a very small inspection body compared to the magnitude of the fleet. The State’s budget cuts only worsened this situation,” he emphasized.
ECOFAM: citizen science to monitor ocean health
The Coastal Team of Marine Fauna and Environment Observers (ECOFAM) currently brings together 60 volunteers in nine nodes, from the province of Buenos Aires to Tierra del Fuego, including locations such as Pinamar, Mar del Plata, Necochea, Las Grutas, and Ushuaia.
The initiative encourages citizens to:
- Voluntarily walk along beaches.
- Report findings of deceased birds, sea turtles, or marine mammals.
- Take measurements, photographs, and upload data which are later systematized by scientists.
“Each observation counts. Each record is a piece of the puzzle that allows us to understand the real state of the Argentine Sea,” explained Tamini.
Doing science in a context of cuts and uncertain funding
From the Marine Program, Tamini acknowledges that the deterioration of the economic situation impacts research tasks: “External funding loses strength with the increase in the dollar. But Conicet is the most affected: it suffers from a deep underfunding that jeopardizes the continuity of public science,” he stated.
Protecting albatrosses is caring for the health of the sea
Albatrosses are not only majestic birds, but sensitive indicators of ocean health. Their decline reflects imbalances that affect the entire marine chain. The call from Aves Argentinas seeks to add voluntary hands on the coast and continue building knowledge in difficult times for science.
