| Kingdom | Phylum | Class | Order | Family |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ANIMALIA | CHORDATA | AVES | Procellariiformes | Diomedeidae |
| Scientific Name: | Phoebastria albatrus | |||
| Species Authority: | (Pallas, 1769) | |||
Common Name/s:
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| Synonym/s: |
Diomedea albatrus
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| Red List Category & Criteria: | Vulnerable D2 ver 3.1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Year Assessed: | 2008 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Assessor/s | BirdLife International | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Evaluator/s: | Butchart, S. (BirdLife International Red List Authority), Small, C. & Sullivan, B. (BirdLife International Global Seabird Programme) | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Justification: This species is listed as Vulnerable because, although conservation efforts have resulted in a steady population increase, it still has a very small breeding range, limited to Torishima and Minami-kojima (Senkaku Islands), rendering it susceptible to stochastic events and human impacts. |
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| History: |
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| Range Description: |
Phoebastria albatrus breeds on Torishima, Japan, and the Senkaku Islands, that are claimed jointly by Japan, mainland China and Taiwan (China). It historically bred on several additional Japanese islands and islands off Taiwan. Its marine range covers most of the northern Pacific Ocean and there are some records in the Sea of Okhotsk, but it has not recently been found in the Sea of Japan. It typically occurs on shelf and shelf break waters and has been recorded along the coasts of Japan, eastern Russia, South Korea, China, Taiwan, Alaska, the west coast of North America, and the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, USA. Post-breeding birds from Torishima follow one of two general migratory patterns. Firstly, they migrate to the east coast of Japan, and then either fly offshore of the continental shelf and north to the Aleutian Islands, or they remain in waters around Japan for several months before heading north1. The species declined dramatically during the 19th and 20th centuries owing to exploitation for feathers, and was believed extinct in 1949, until rediscovered in 1951. The current population is estimated, via modelling based on productivity data, to be 2,052 individuals, with 1,712 birds from Torishima and 340 birds from the Senkaku Islands2.
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| Countries: |
Native:
Canada; China; Japan; Korea, Republic of; Mexico; Taiwan, Province of China; United States; United States Minor Outlying Islands
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| FAO Marine Fishing Areas: |
Native:
Pacific – eastern central; Pacific – northwest; Pacific – northeast; Pacific – western central
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| Range Map: |
(click map to view full version)
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| Population: |
At the end of the 2006-2007 breeding season, the global population was estimated to be 2,364 individuals, with 1,922 birds on Torishima and 442 birds on Minami-kojima (Senkaku Islands). This includes direct observation of breeding pairs on Torishima, an assumption on numbers of non-breeding birds, and an estimate for the Minami-kojima population that is based upon a 2002 estimate and an assumption of population growth rate, which, together, puts the Minami-kojima population at about 15% of the global population5.
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| Population Trend: |
Increasing
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| Habitat and Ecology: |
Historically, it preferred level, open, areas adjacent to tall clumps of the grass Miscanthus sinensis for nesting. It feeds mainly on squid and has been recorded following ships to feed on scraps and fish offal.
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| Systems: | Marine |
| Major Threat(s): |
Its historical decline was caused by exploitation. Today, the key threats are mortality caused by fisheries, and the instability of soil on its main breeding site. With the majority of the population breeding at a single site, it is vulnerable to natural disasters, such as volcanic eruptions or typhoons. Introduced predators are a potential threat.
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| Conservation Actions: |
Conservation actions underway: It is legally protected in Japan and the USA. A draft recovery plan has been developed2. Mitigation measures are required in the Alaska demersal longline fishery and in the Hawaii-based pelagic longline fishery. Streamer lines have been designed to keep birds from longline hooks as they are set, and these are being distributed free to the Alaskan long-line fleet2. A programme to develop and distribute lighter-weight lines for smaller vessels is being developed2. Torishima has been established as a National Wildlife Protection Area. In 1981-1982, native plants were transplanted into the Torishima nesting colony, in order to stabilise the nesting habitat and the nest structures. This has enhanced breeding success, with over 60% of eggs now resulting in fledged young. Decoys have been used to attract birds to nest at another site on Torishima and the first pair started breeding at this new site in November 1995. As of 2003, six chicks have fledged from this site.
Continue to promote measures designed to protect this species from entanglement in fishing nets and prevent mortality from longline fisheries. Re-establish birds at former colonies as insurance against disasters. Promote conservation measures for the population in the Senkaku Islands. Continue research into the at-sea distribution and marine habitat use through satellite telemetry studies. Continue land-based management and population monitoring.
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| Citation: | BirdLife International 2008. Phoebastria albatrus. In: IUCN 2010. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2010.1. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 18 March 2010. |
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