Reposted from the Pelagics list. Note that most of our New England Seabirds are starting their northern migration just as this tragedy happens.

BirdLife Internationall News Briefing
CRITICALLY ENDANGERED SEABIRD POTENTIALLY AT RISK FROM BRAZILIAN OIL RIG SINKING Cambridge, UK, 20 March 2001 -

Following the sinking of the world's largest oil rig P-36 off the coast of Brazil, BirdLife International is deeply concerned that the critically endangered Spectacled Petrel (Procellaria conspicillata) and near threatened Atlantic Yellow-nosed Albatross (Thelassarche chlororhynchos) which occur in the area of the sinking could be potentially at risk from any oil spill that results [1 2]. Three other seabird species present in Europe that migrate through this area that may also be affected are Manx (Puffinus puffinus), Cory's (Calonectris diomedea) and Great (Puffinus gravis) Shearwaters.

The 40-storey oil rig has 9,500 barrels (1.5 million litres) of crude oil on board and sank 120 kilometres north east of Rio de Janeiro. A significant spill from the rig or one of the well heads located below it could cause seabirds to be oiled, as well as other marine wildlife. Previous accidental oil spills have killed large numbers of seabirds [3].

The data presented here was collected by BirdLife International's Globally Threatened Species Programme and published in Threatened Birds of the World in October 2000:

1. Spectacled Petrel Procellaria conspicillata (Critically Endangered) This species is critically endangered because it is confined to one tiny island (Inaccessible Island, Tristan de Cuhna, UK Overseas Territory) when breeding and is likely to be declining as there is strong evidence that proportionately large numbers are being caught by longline fishing vessels. Current estimates are that some 700 individual birds are killed in longline fisheries each year from a total population estimated to be between 2,500 and 10,000 individuals. It is know to be present in waters off Brazil in increasing numbers at this time of year.

2. Atlantic Yellow-nosed Albatross Thelassarche chlororhynchos (Near Threatened) There is no information on the trends for most populations of this species but one study of a small population showed a significant decrease over 1982-1999. There are reports of mortalities in longline fisheries, in particular an estimated mortality of at least 900 individual birds per annum off south-eastern Brazil and where it is know to be one of the commonest species to follow longline vessels. If further information confirms that this species is suffering a continuing decline or a significant overall reduction, a classification of Vulnerable would be appropriate. For further information please contact Michael Szabo on +44 (0)1223 277 318 or 07779 018332 (mobile).

Photos of some of the bird species mentioned in this briefing are available for media use only on the BirdLife International website at http://www.birdlife.net

NOTES:

1. BirdLife International is a global alliance of conservation organisations working in more than 100 countries who, together, are the leading authority on the status of birds, their habitats and the issues and problems affecting bird life. BirdLife Partners include the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (UK).

2. Critically Endangered. A species is Critically Endangered (= Critical) when it is facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild in the immediate future. Endangered. A species is Endangered when it is not Critical but is facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future. Vulnerable. A species is Vulnerable when it is not Critical or Endangered but is facing a high risk of extinction in the wild in the medium-term future.

3. Previous oil spills affecting seabirds: In June 2000 the Treasure sank off the west coast of South Africa. Fuel oil leaking from the ship surrounded the nearby Robben and Dassen Islands, both of which host important colonies of African Penguins Spheniscus demersus. Up to 40% of the world population of this globally threatened species was in danger, but thanks to the timely efforts of 40,000 rescuers and BirdLife Partners (BirdLife South Africa, LPO, RSPB and WBFT) 23,000 oiled birds were able to be taken to be cleaned at Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB) centres and 20,000 unoiled birds temporarily removed to Port Elizabeth to avoid oiling.

The sinking of the Erika off the Brittany coast in late December 1999 is another dramatic example of the effect oil pollution can have on seabirds. By the end of January 2000, a total of almost 61,000 oiled birds had been handled, of which nearly 52,000 were dead and nearly 9,000 oiled but still alive (although their survival chances are low, especially if they were heavily oiled and ingested oil).

This means that the known number of dead birds already far exceeded the estimated total of birds killed in the UK by the Torrey Canyon disaster in 1967, the previous worst incident on the Atlantic coast. The estimated total number of dead seabirds, making allowances for the fact that a far greater proportion of birds die at sea and are never recovered than are actually brought ashore, puts the number of dead birds at 100,000 to 150,000. However, other estimates put the total at a far higher level - perhaps as high as 200,000 or 300,000 birds in this disaster. ___________________________________________________
John Cooper Chief Research Officer
Avian Demography Unit
Department of Statistical Sciences
University of Cape Town
Rondebosch 7700 South Africa
jcooper@botzoo.uct.ac.za www.uct.ac.za/depts/stats/adu
Phone: +27-21-650-3426
Fax: +27-21-650-3434