What is Peregrine doing?

Fund raising - Ship auctions

Through holding ‘auctions’ on board our ships in Antarctica and other fund raising activities in Australia , we have raised over A$500,000, which has been channelled directly into research and conservation projects that we have developed in conjunction with our partners. They include WWF Australia, the Seabirds Funds Advisory Group (chaired by Dr Graham Robertson, Principal Research Scientist at the Australian Antarctic Division (AAD)) and Sally Poncet (South Georgia Surveys).

These projects seek to address the problem at both an international policy level and at a grassroots action level. They have the potential to make significant contributions to the overall conservation effort. Our current funding is going towards:

Seabird Mortality Research Project: Bait setting capsule

Peregrine is currently working with Graham Robertson (AAD) in designing, building and testing this underwater capsule, which is to be eventually mounted on to fishing vessels. The fishing techniques utilised by a lot of these vessels, many of which are based in Uruguay, have caused an alarming rise in the mortality rates of petrels and albatrosses (in particular, the wandering albatross). If successful, this one project could have an immediate and significant impact in increasing the chances of survival for these magnificent birds.

The capsule has already been designed and built and is now nearing the end of the ‘test’ phase. We’ll soon know if the device is ready for deployment (May 2009). This is an ongoing project and the plan is to bring to realisation a real and practical solution to the dilemma of bycatch in longline fishing, which is believed to have caused an alarming 10% decline in the population of wandering albatross in South Georgia in one year.

If you would like to be kept informed of developments please email albatross@peregrineadventures.com

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