PROTECTING THE ALBATROSS

Early day motion 1354, tabled 11 January 2006 by Andrew Rosindell (Conservative). Signed by 68 members.

That this House commends Bird Life International and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds for their campaign, Save the Albatross, a noble enterprise designed to protect this most rare and graceful gliding giant of the skies around the United Kingdom Overseas Territories of South Georgia and the British Antarctic Territory from the huge threat of long lined fishing hooks, that are responsible for one albatross death every five minutes; notes the project's sustained endeavour in drawing attention to the bird's sad plight, educating fishermen to use alternative fishing practices, and encouraging governments and organisations to enforce these practices when necessary; further notes the importance of tackling pirate fishing, whose unregulated existence is responsible for the deaths of tens of thousands of albatrosses every year; urges governments worldwide to take heed of the plight of the albatross; and hopes that this traditional bringer of good omens for sailors will be allowed to prosper in British overseas territories and not meet the fate of its ancestor in Coleridge's The Rime of the Ancient Mariner.

Signatures by party: Labour 35, Conservative 20, Liberal Democrat 8, DUP 3, Plaid Cymru 1, UUP 1.