surfbirds.com - Suwarrow Atoll, Cook Islands

Cambridge, UK, Monday 5 March 2001 - Plans to develop commercial pearl farming at Suwarrow Atoll in the northern Cook Islands pose a threat to the atoll's globally important seabird breeding colonies, according to BirdLife International, the world's leading authority on the conservation of birds [1].

Eleven seabird species breed on the remote atoll which supports the only large colonies of Sooty Tern (Sterna fuscata), Brown Booby (Sula leucogaster) and Lesser Frigatebird (Fregata ariel) in the Cook Islands. In addition there is a major colony of Red-tailed Tropicbird (Phaethon rubricauda), and colonies of Great Frigatebird (Fregata minor) and Masked Booby (Sula dactylatra) that breed nowhere elsewhere in the northern Cook Islands. Suwarrow is also an important wintering site for the globally threatened Bristle-thighed Curlew (Numenius tahitiensis).

Su bird picture - Lesser Frigatebird warrow was declared a National Park in 1978 and according to BirdLife International qualifies as an Important Bird Area (IBA) on three counts: because of its colonies of Lesser Frigatebird (9% of the world population), Red-tailed Tropicbird (3% of the world population), and Sooty Tern (exceptionally large colonies of 71,500 pairs) [2].

"Suwarrow Atoll is the most important seabird breeding site in the Cook Islands and one of the most important sites for birds in the central Pacific", said Dr Michael Rands, Director and Chief Executive of BirdLife International. "Suwarrow Atoll deserves to be protected from commercial development to preserve its outstanding natural beauty and globally important biodiversity".

Last year an Australian developer, the Rock Lobster Company, pr bird picture - Red-billed Tropicbird oposed establishing commercial black pearl farming on the atoll to the Cook Islands Government. Local conservationists fear the proposed development will adversely impact on Suwarrow's important bird life because up to 100 people may eventually live and work on the atoll to service pearl farming. The total land area is only 0.4 square kilometres.

The Australian developers are seeking a 60-year lease from the Government to farm Black-lipped pearl oysters. To help establish pearl farming they propose to import oysters from neighbouring Manihiki Atoll because the wild stock in Suwarrow's lagoon is already rare. The introduction of pearl stock is an issue of grave concern because of the increased disease risk. Recently, an unusually high number of Vibrio bacteria caused significant mortality in pearl shells in the Manihiki lagoon.

Local conservationists believe Suwarrow has significant bird populations largely because it has never been permanently inhabited by humans. Despite the Government's insistence that there will be strict environmental regulations in place, local conservationists remain unconvinced. They say that past Governmental enforcement of environmental legislation has been poor.

Local conservationists in the Cook Islands opposed to commercial pearl farming on Suwarrow include Jolene Bosanquet (jandp@oyster.net.ck) and Jacqui Evans (jevans@wwfcooks.org.ck) who are both members of the Save Our Suwarrow (SOS) Committee in the Cook Islands.

For further information, please contact Michael Szabo, Communications Manager, BirdLife International, Cambridge, UK, on +44 (0) 1223 277 318 or +44 (0) 7779 018332 (mobile). michael.szabo@birdlife.org.uk

NOTES:

1. BirdLife International is a global alliance of conservation organisations working in over 100 countries who, together, are the leading authority on the status of birds, their habitats and the issues and problems affecting bird life. Partners and affiliates with an interest in the Pacific region include Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society (New Zealand), Birds Australia, Ornithological Society of Polynesia (French Polynesia), O le Siosiomaga Society (Samoa), Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (UK), Ligue pour la Protection des Oiseaux (France) and National Audubon Society (USA).

2. Important Bird Areas or IBAs are internationally important sites for the conservation of birds and biodiversity, selected according to internationally recognised criteria.

3. Suwarrow is an uninhabited atoll situated in the northern Cook Islands, over 800 kilometres from the main island, Rarotonga. Although Suwarrow is uninhabited, it is a favourite stop-over for yachts sailing between French Polynesia and Samoa.

4. The Cook Islands Government declared Suwarrow a National Park in 1978 under the Conservation Act of 1975. Changes in successive Acts mean its National Park status is considered by some to be invalid. The conservation status of Suwarrow is currently an issue of debate between environmentalists and the Government.

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	IMPORTANT COOK ISLANDS SEABIRD BREEDING SITE UNDER THREAT Cambridge, UK, Monday 5 March 2001 - Plans to develop commercial pearl farming at Suwarrow Atoll in the northern Cook Islands pose a threat to the atoll's globally important seabird breeding colonies, according to BirdLife International, the world's leading authority on the conservation of birds [1]. Eleven seabird species breed on the remote atoll which supports the only large colonies of Sooty Tern (Sterna fuscata), Brown Booby (Sula leucogaster) and Lesser Frigatebird (Fregata ariel) in the Cook Islands. In addition there is a major colony of Red-tailed Tropicbird (Phaethon rubricauda), and colonies of Great Frigatebird (Fregata minor) and Masked Booby (Sula dactylatra) that breed nowhere elsewhere in the northern Cook Islands. Suwarrow is also an important wintering site for the globally threatened Bristle-thighed Curlew (Numenius tahitiensis). Suwarrow was declared a National Park in 1978 and according to BirdLife International qualifies as an Important Bird Area (IBA) on three counts: because of its colonies of Lesser Frigatebird (9% of the world population), Red-tailed Tropicbird (3% of the world population), and Sooty Tern (exceptionally large colonies of 71,500 pairs) [2]. "Suwarrow Atoll is the most important seabird breeding site in the Cook Islands and one of the most important sites for birds in the central Pacific", said Dr Michael Rands, Director and Chief Executive of BirdLife International. "Suwarrow Atoll deserves to be protected from commercial development to preserve its outstanding natural beauty and globally important biodiversity". Last year an Australian developer, the Rock Lobster Company, proposed establishing commercial black pearl farming on the atoll to the Cook Islands Government. Local conservationists fear the proposed development will adversely impact on Suwarrow's important bird life because up to 100 people may eventually live and work on the atoll to service pearl farming. The total land area is only 0.4 square kilometres. The Australian developers are seeking a 60-year lease from the Government to farm Black-lipped pearl oysters. To help establish pearl farming they propose to import oysters from neighbouring Manihiki Atoll because the wild stock in Suwarrow's lagoon is already rare. The introduction of pearl stock is an issue of grave concern because of the increased disease risk. Recently, an unusually high number of Vibrio bacteria caused significant mortality in pearl shells in the Manihiki lagoon. Local conservationists believe Suwarrow has significant bird populations largely because it has never been permanently inhabited by humans. Despite the Government's insistence that there will be strict environmental regulations in place, local conservationists remain unconvinced. They say that past Governmental enforcement of environmental legislation has been poor. Local conservationists in the Cook Islands opposed to commercial pearl farming on Suwarrow include Jolene Bosanquet (jandp@oyster.net.ck) and Jacqui Evans (jevans@wwfcooks.org.ck) who are both members of the Save Our Suwarrow (SOS) Committee in the Cook Islands. For further information, please contact Michael Szabo, Communications Manager, BirdLife International, Cambridge, UK, on +44 (0) 1223 277 318 or +44 (0) 7779 018332 (mobile). michael.szabo@birdlife.org.uk NOTES: 1. BirdLife International is a global alliance of conservation organisations working in over 100 countries who, together, are the leading authority on the status of birds, their habitats and the issues and problems affecting bird life. Partners and affiliates with an interest in the Pacific region include Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society (New Zealand), Birds Australia, Ornithological Society of Polynesia (French Polynesia), O le Siosiomaga Society (Samoa), Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (UK), Ligue pour la Protection des Oiseaux (France) and National Audubon Society (USA). 2. Important Bird Areas or IBAs are internationally important sites for the conservation of birds and biodiversity, selected according to internationally recognised criteria. 3. Suwarrow is an uninhabited atoll situated in the northern Cook Islands, over 800 kilometres from the main island, Rarotonga. Although Suwarrow is uninhabited, it is a favourite stop-over for yachts sailing between French Polynesia and Samoa. 4. The Cook Islands Government declared Suwarrow a National Park in 1978 under the Conservation Act of 1975. Changes in successive Acts mean its National Park status is considered by some to be invalid. The conservation status of Suwarrow is currently an issue of debate between environmentalists and the Government.

IMPORTANT COOK ISLANDS SEABIRD BREEDING SITE UNDER THREAT