The RSPB and BirdLife want to create a team of 10 people across the world to work with fishermen on shore and at sea.

We already have three members working in South Africa and two in Brazil. Click here to read their diaries.

Spreading the word

Fishermen are often unaware of the simple, cost effective techniques that can - if used - rapidly reduce albatross deaths.

Dramatic results can be achieved by showing them how to use these techniques and telling them about how albatross numbers are declining.

There are observers on some boats to record seabird deaths from fishing, but there is a real shortage of a team of qualified at-sea instructors to train fishermen and get something practical done.

Albatross Task Force will be that much needed team.

Going to extremes

This is no easy job. Our team will be prepared for:

• Going to sea on commerical longline fishing boats in all weathers in some of the wildest oceans of the world
• Using the right language and skills to build respect and credibility with fishing crews
• Listening to fishermen's experience to feedback into the work
• Convincing fishermen on how to use practical techniques that avoid albatrosses dying horrible deaths on hooks
• Targeting problem fisheries, where we know lots of albatrosses and seabirds die

The ATF team will be managed by BirdLife Partner organisations around the world. It will be co-ordinated by the Global Seabird Programme from its headquarters at the RSPB (BirdLife Partner in the UK).

Please Save the Albatross today

Albatross Task Force and our global seabird work can help save albatrosses from extinction - but this work is not cheap.

Please save an albatross today by giving your support - it will make a real difference.