Fransisca Noni, EAAFP Seabird Working Group
As part of the Pacific Seabird Group 53rd Annual Meeting in 2026, the East Asian Seabird Conservation Committee meeting was held on Monday, 24 February 2026. A total of 20 participants attended the meeting. The session was coordinated by Simba Chan and attended by Robb Kaler as Chair of the Seabird Working Group of the East Asian–Australasian Flyway Partnership.
Participants representing the United States, Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, China, Philippines, Japan, and South Korea presented and discussed their respective seabird conservation activities. Presentations included:
- Yuna Kim – Seabird projects in Australia
- Fransisca Noni Tirtaningtyas – Seabird conservation in Indonesia
- Choo‑Eng Tan – Bird Survey of Pulau Layang-layang, Malaysia
- Jacelyn See Choen Min – Status of seabirds in Malaysia
- Yachang Cheng – Seabirds as sentinels in human-dominated seascapes: recent advances from China
- Retch Alaba – Seabird conservation in Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park, Philippines
- Daisuke Ochi – Overview of albatross research on Torishima Island, Japan
- Yasuko Suzuki – Engagement with the tuna longline industry and government in Japan
- Miran Kim – Seabird conservation in Korea, particularly related to gillnet bycatch
Key points identified from the meeting included:
- A large amount of information was presented regarding seabird bycatch in fishing gear, highlighting the need for increased attention and mitigation efforts in the future. Other emerging threats, such as light pollution at sea and poaching (including egg poaching), were also identified as important concerns.
- Avian influenza and its impacts on seabirds were identified as a priority area for regional action.
- Little Tern conservation and the development of standardized banding and survey protocols were highlighted as topics requiring coordinated efforts.
- BirdLife Australia is compiling a national seabird breeding colony register intended for integration with global datasets.
- An unpublished Asian seabird breeding colony dataset currently exists and needs to be published or integrated into an online platform.
For future actions, regular discussions for the seabird working group are recommended. A follow-up meeting is also planned during the Asian Ornithological Conference 2026 in Singapore in November 2026.
If you are interested in becoming a member of the EAAFP Seabird Working Group, please send an email to the current Chair/Coordinator: Robb Kaler (robbkaler@gmail.com) and Yat-tung Yu (bfspoonbill@hkbws.org.hk). Include your details and specify your role or interest in seabird conservation within the East Asian–Australasian Flyway.
