Eugenia Moche
Namibia has taken a step in marine conservation by formally supporting accession to the Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels (ACAP).
The announcement followed the successful hosting of the 15th Meeting of ACAP’s Advisory Committee (AC15) in Swakopmund from 1 to 5 June 2026.
On 23 June, the 19th Cabinet decision supporting the country’s accession marked its intent to the international treaty, reaffirming its commitment to conserving albatrosses and petrels through science-based decision-making and sustainable fisheries management.
Globally, over 350 seabird species are known, with nearly half facing population declines due to overfishing, climate change, and habitat loss.
By joining ACAP, Namibia strengthens international efforts to halt these declines and demonstrates that regional leadership can have global impact.
According to a statement released after the meeting, Namibia shared progress it has made, including a 98% reduction in seabird bycatch in the demersal longline fishery and a 95% reduction in the demersal trawl fishery, alongside the implementation of its National Plan of Action for Seabirds (NPOA-S) and its intention to accede to the agreement.
The Advisory Committee recognised the achievements as an example of translating international commitments into practical conservation action.
The milestone represents many years of collaboration between the government, industry, and conservation partners.
The ministry of agriculture, fisheries, water and land reform has led the charge, supported by the Fisheries Observer Agency, the Namibian Hake Association, and industry partners.
International organisations such as the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) and BirdLife International have provided technical and financial support, helping strengthen Namibia’s capacity to reduce fisheries bycatch and protect some of the world’s most threatened seabirds.
The Namibia Nature Foundation (NNF), collaborating with the Albatross Task Force and other partners, has also played a vital role in sustaining progress since 2008.
The NNF expressed gratitude for the collaboration, noting that it is a reminder that lasting conservation outcomes are achieved through partnership, shared commitment, and sustained investment.
During the AC15 deliberations, the Advisory Committee endorsed updated Best Practice Advice for pelagic and demersal longline, trawl, purse seine, and artisanal fisheries, while refining seabird bycatch response indicators and urging Parties to report on mitigation implementation.
A new Communications Strategy was advanced with funding allocated for strategic communications to drive behavioural change in mitigation uptake.
The Regional Fisheries Management and Conservation Organisations Engagement Strategy saw further refinement, with parties encouraged to promote its objectives and AC officers tasked with developing an implementation plan.
Key discussions addressed taxonomy updates, with ACAP adopting AviList as its basal taxonomy, and population trends, with funding prioritised for analyses to inform International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List assessments.
Australia announced a $2.5 million voluntary contribution to research offshore renewable energy impacts on ACAP-listed species.
Chile offered to host AC16 in Punta Arenas in 2027. The meeting also addressed emerging threats including high-pathogenicity avian influenza, marine plastics, and per- and polyflouroalkyl pollutants, while endorsing continued collaboration on gadfly petrel conservation and the Seabird Safe Toolkit.
For Namibia, accession to APAC aims to further strengthen its contribution to global ocean stewardship, while the country’s leadership continues to demonstrate that sustainable fisheries and healthy seabird populations can coexist.
