PLASTIC BAND COORDINATION. 12.1. Consider whether ACAP should collate/coordinate information on plastic bands used in population-monitoring studies to reduce duplication and improve usefulness of at-sea observations. In the sub-Antarctic and Antarctic, all parties conducting banding on ACAP species use plastic (“Darvic”) bands in addition to standard metal bands specific to each nation. These plastic bands allow easier identification at distance at breeding sites, and reduce the need to handle birds. However, whereas the codes on metal identification bands are unique, and differ between nations, the same plastic band colour and alphanumeric codes (letter or number combinations) may be used by several nations. This would not be a problem for identification on the breeding sites, but observations of plastic bands also occur elsewhere, especially from fishing vessels. Generally only plastic bands are read at distance. No central catalogue of band colours and codes currently exists, and it seems important that Parties to ACAP can exchange and have access to a catalogue of bands used on the different species by each nation, so that i) observers can contact the relevant research agency, and ii) to avoid duplicates of plastic band codes as far as is possible. During the discussion it was pointed out that metal bands may not be reported by fishermen simply because they do not know where to send the information, i.e. that a very useful and important information on bycatch is lost.
PLASTIC BAND COORDINATION. 12.11.1 The WG discussed the proposal that ACAP consider collating/coordinating information on plastic (Darvic) bands in use in population monitoring studies to reduce duplication and improve usefulness of at-sea observations. Most Parties conducting banding on ACAP species use plastic bands in addition to standard metal bands to allow easier identification at distance at breeding sites, and reduce the need to handle birds. Whereas the codes on metal bands are unique, and differ between nations, the same plastic band colour and alphanumeric codes (letter or number combinations) may be used by several nations. The WGs concluded that it would be useful for a central catalogue to be hosted on the ACAP website, so that i) observers, particularly on fishing vessels, can contact the relevant research agency to obtain bird details, and ii) to avoid duplicates of plastic band codes as far as possible. In addition, given that metal bands may not be reported by fishermen simply because they do not know where to send the information, Parties were also asked to provide contact details for national banding schemes, to be listed on the ACAP website to ensure that this important information on bycatch is not lost.
