美國聯邦政府於9日針對是否將黑腳信天翁(black-footed albatross)列入瀕臨絕種物種法一案，再次進行正式的評估。目前黑腳信天翁在國際自然及資源保育聯盟(IUCN) 的瀕危物種紅皮書中，被歸類為面臨全球性瀕絕危機的物種。
學名為Phoebastria nigripes的黑腳信天翁，棲息於夏威夷群島的西北部；全球第二大黑腳信天翁族群即群聚在太平洋的中途島環礁。
如同其他種類的信天翁，黑腳信天翁同樣面臨延繩漁釣的威脅，即便其原定目標鎖定旗魚及鮪魚。全球總計21種信天翁，其中19種均受延繩漁釣所苦。
延繩漁釣，是將一條繫有上千魚鉤的繩索拋往60英哩外的海面，每年有超過30萬隻水鳥因而溺斃；信天翁與其他鳥類在進行覓食的時候，俯衝向綁有誘餌的鉤子，上鉤後被拖至水面下而溺斃。
美國魚類及野生動植物機構太平洋辦事處的專業督導李歐納德(Patrick Leonard)表示，「信天翁的健康，是我們所有關心海洋生態的人們所關注的焦點。我們接下來即將進行為期12個月的重新審視，決定是否將信天翁列入名單當中。」
Today the federal government began a formal review to determine if the black-footed albatross should receive the protections of the Endangered Species Act. This albatross is already classified as globally Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
The black-footed albatross, Phoebastria nigripes, nests in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. Midway Atoll has the second largest population in the world.
Like all albatrosses, this species is threatened by drowning in longline fisheries targeting swordfish and tuna. Globally, 19 of the 21 recognized albatross species are considered threatened.
Longline fishing, carried out by setting thousands of hooks from a line upwards of 60 miles in length, drowns more than 300,000 seabirds each year. Albatross and other birds dive at the baited hooks as they are deployed, become hooked, and are dragged underwater, where they drown.
"The health of this majestic seabird is a concern for all of us who care about marine ecosystems," said Patrick Leonard, field supervisor for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Pacific Islands Office. "Our next step in the process is to initiate a status review of the species followed by a 12-month finding to determine if listing is actually warranted."
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In my healing journey and learning to attain the breath awareness, I become aware of the reality that all the creatures of the world are breathing the same breath. Take action, here and now. From my physical being to the every corner of this out of balance's planet.
