Save the Albatross - Campaign Highlights

June 25th, 2004

John and Marie Christine Ridgway are in Rome to present the petition to save the albatross from pirate fishing to the United Nations.

The petition had over 100,000 signatures, signed by people from over 130 countries.

June 18th, 2004

English Rose VI welcomed home at Tower Bridge, London, England after an epic adventure around the world to raise awareness about the needless slaughter of the albatross.

January 24th, 2004

Prime Minister Helen Clark farewells Voyage

New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark, accompanied by Cabinet Minister Annette King and Environment Minister Marian Hobbs, farewelled the albatross voyage at the start of its Wellington - Falkland Islands leg. Helen Clark spoke to well-wishes and the English Rose VI crew about the need to eliminate seabird by-kill and the need to end pirate fishing.

Forest and Bird member, Brent Stephenson, will complete this leg of the voyage as volunteer crew.

Photo (left): New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark signs the petition calling for an end to pirate fishing to protect albatross, (right) Kayaks accompany the English Rose VI as the boat leaves Wellington Harbour.

January 10th, 2004

Albatross Voyage arrives in Wellington

On Saturday 10th January 2004, English Rose IV sailed into Wellington Harbour completing the Australia to New Zealand leg of their journey.

December 28, 2003

English Rose VI departs Melbourne, Australia for Wellington, New Zealand with Forest and Bird staff member Carol Knutson aboard as volunteer crew.

Photo: Carol at the helm of English Rose VI as they sight New Zealand after crossing the Tasman. Top of the South Island in the background.

July 24, 2003

Forest and Bird bids 'safe journey' to John Ridgway and crew as they embark on their epic voyage around the world for the albatross

English Rose VI On Sunday 27 July 2003, John Ridgway (of Atlantic rowing fame) set sail from Scotland to circumnavigate the Southern Ocean. The aim of the journey is to 'prevent the needless slaughter of the albatross'.

For more information about the voyage visit www.savethealbatross.org

March 18, 2003

Forest and Bird presented albatross postcards to foreign embassies and the NZ Government

Postcards were signed by representatives of America's Cup syndicates (Team NZ, Alinghi, OneWorld Challenge and GBR Challenge) in support of the Campaign.
Postcards were presented to the Embassies of Argentina, Australia, Chile, France, Korea, South Africa and the NZ Government at the Royal Port Nicholson Yacht Club, Wellington, NZ.
Representatives from the Governments of Japan and Great Britian were regretfully unable to attend the presentation therefore we plan to present postcards to them shortly.

Photo from left:
(front)Second Secretary Min-Cheol Lee from the Korean Embassy
Counsellor Laurent Polonceaux from the French Embassy
High Commissioner Bob Cotton from the Australian High Commission
Carmen Fortuin, daughter of Honorary Representative Gregory Fortuin of the South African Consulate
Ambassador Enrique de la Torre from the Embassy of the Argentine Republic
Hugh Logan, Director-General of the Department of Conservation
(behind)Eric Pyle, Conservation Manager of Forest and Bird
Ambassador Carlos Appelgren from the Embassy of the Republic of Chile
Gerry McSweeney, President of Forest and Bird

Great response from e-card and postcards!

The Minister of Fisheries office has been inundated with emails and postcards in support of the campaign and keeping seabirds off the hook. Thank you to those who have contacted the Minister - you are helping to save the albatross.

December 19, 2002

Louis Vuitton "Save the Albatross" Media Conference

Representatives from America Cup teams officially lent their support to the Save the Albatross Campaign by signing albatross postcards at a press conference at the Louis Vuitton Media Centre in Auckland.

Photo from left: Dave Endean and Sean Brealey from OneWorld, Joao Cabecadas from Alinghi, Eric Pyle from Forest and Bird, Mark Orams from Team New Zealand and Ed Danby from GBR Challenge - all unite in the campaign to save the albatross at the America's Cup Louis Vuitton Media Centre.

December 14, 2002

Forest and Bird officially joins BirdLife's International Campaign to Save the Albatross

Forest and Bird launched its campaign to 'Save the Albatross' as part of a global BirdLife International initiative at the Royal Albatross Centre, Taiaroa Head, Dunedin. Forest and Bird was delighted that the Minister of Fisheries was able to attend the launch.

At the Tairoa Heads Albatross Centre children from Forest and Bird's Kiwi Conservation Club acted out the drama of albatrosses being caught on longlines. The Minister was presented with an albatross collage painted by the children and a large postcard from Forest and Bird and the City of Dunedin.

Photo from left: Lea Mcvey (Dunedin City Councillor), Pete Hodgson (Minister of Fisheries), Eric Pyle (Forest and Bird Conservation Manager) and Alan Mark (Forest and Bird National Executive Member).

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This page was updated on 4 May, 2005