Phoebastria nigripes

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	AVES	Procellariiformes	Diomedeidae

Scientific Name:

Phoebastria nigripes

Species Authority:

(Audubon, 1849)

Common Name/s:

English

–

Black-footed Albatross

Synonym/s:

Diomedea nigripes

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Endangered A3bd 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)

Justification:
This species is listed as Endangered on the basis of a projected future rapid population decline over the next three generations (56 years), taking account of estimated rates of incidental mortality in longline fisheries in the north Pacific Ocean. However, an onging review of the species's population status may lead to a review of its categorisation.

History:

2005	–	Endangered
2004	–	Endangered
2003	–	Endangered
2000	–	Vulnerable
1994	–	Lower Risk/least concern
1988	–	Lower Risk/least concern

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Phoebastria nigripes breeds on the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (USA), the US Minor Outlying Islands and three outlying islands of Japan, colonies having been lost from other Pacific islands^3,14. In total there are estimated to be 64,500 pairs breeding each year^25,30 in at least 14 locations. The largest populations are c.24,000 and 21,000 pairs on Midway Atoll and Laysan Island, respectively, which together account for 73% of the global population^25,30. On Torishima, 20 chicks were reared in 1964, compared to 914 from 1,219 pairs in 1998⁴. The species disperses widely over the north Pacific Ocean, particularly to the north-east , toward the coastal waters of North America. There have been occasional records in the southern hemisphere^{2,19, 21, 23, 24, 27}.
Countries:	Native: Canada; China; Guam; Japan; Korea, Republic of; Marshall Islands; Mexico; Micronesia, Federated States of; Taiwan, Province of China; United States; United States Minor Outlying Islands Vagrant: New Zealand Present - origin uncertain: Northern Mariana Islands; Palau
FAO Marine Fishing Areas:	Native: Pacific – eastern central; Pacific – northwest; Pacific – northeast; Pacific – western central
Range Map:	(click map to view full version)

Population [top]

Population:	Counts in the 2006-2007 breeding season produced population estimates of 64,500 pairs, equivalent to 129,000 breeding individuals (Flint 2007) This estimate is based on standardized surveys at Midway Atoll, Laysan Island, and French Frigate Shoals in 2006 (551,940 pairs; 25,780 95% CI; Flint 2007). These three colonies support >90% of the global breeding population. Estimates for the other colonies are the most recent available (1982-2006). There are c. 23 pairs breeding on the Bonin Islands in Japan, and c. 400 pairs on islands offshore from Mexico (primarily Isla Guadalupe, 337 pairs estimated in 2005; Hyrenbach and Dotson 2003).
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Population:

Counts in the 2006-2007 breeding season produced population estimates of 64,500 pairs, equivalent to 129,000 breeding individuals (Flint 2007) This estimate is based on standardized surveys at Midway Atoll, Laysan Island, and French Frigate Shoals in 2006 (551,940 pairs; 25,780 95% CI; Flint 2007). These three colonies support >90% of the global breeding population. Estimates for the other colonies are the most recent available (1982-2006). There are c. 23 pairs breeding on the Bonin Islands in Japan, and c. 400 pairs on islands offshore from Mexico (primarily Isla Guadalupe, 337 pairs estimated in 2005; Hyrenbach and Dotson 2003).

Population Trend:

Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	Black-footed Albatross breed on beaches and slopes with little or no vegetation, and on short turf. It feeds mainly on flying fish eggs, squid, fish and crustaceans⁹, but also fish offal and human refuse³.
Systems:	Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	Black-footed Albatross populations declined significantly due to feather and egg collecting in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The population then recovered during the first half of the twentieth century, but has shown a declining trend in the last 15 years²⁵. From 1978-1992, Black-footed Albatross experienced mortality from interactions with high seas drift-nets in the North Pacific¹¹. Bycatch estimates from driftnets put yearly bycatch (at least in 1990) at c.4,000 birds per year. Currently, Black-footed Albatross interacts with longline fisheries in the North Pacific. In 2003, Lewison and Crowder estimated mortality to be at least 2,000 birds per year in US-based fisheries and a further 6,000 in Japanese/Taiwanese fleets¹⁵. Recent estimates indicate a significant reduction in US longline bycatch from previous years that is very likely attributable to the use of effective seabird avoidance measures, with an average of 130 birds killed per year in longline fisheries in Alaska and Hawaii between 2004-6 ²⁸. Bycatch rates in the Japanese and Taiwanese longline fleets are still largely unknown. However, analysis of adult survival rates has identified an impact of fisheries mortality²², and comparisons of the estimated magnitude of bycatch with maximum possible growth rate indicate a non-negligible impact of bycatch ²⁹. Satellite tracking studies that show that post-breeding birds disperse over large distances to the oceanographic 'transition zone' where they are susceptible to bycatch in the US and foreign pelagic longline fleets^{18, 19, 21}. Other threats include pollution (including organochlorines and heavy metals)^{1,12, 26}, loss of nests to waves⁵, introduced predators¹⁰, oiling, plastic ingestion and volcanic eruption on Torishima⁸.

Major Threat(s):

Black-footed Albatross populations declined significantly due to feather and egg collecting in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The population then recovered during the first half of the twentieth century, but has shown a declining trend in the last 15 years²⁵. From 1978-1992, Black-footed Albatross experienced mortality from interactions with high seas drift-nets in the North Pacific¹¹. Bycatch estimates from driftnets put yearly bycatch (at least in 1990) at c.4,000 birds per year. Currently, Black-footed Albatross interacts with longline fisheries in the North Pacific. In 2003, Lewison and Crowder estimated mortality to be at least 2,000 birds per year in US-based fisheries and a further 6,000 in Japanese/Taiwanese fleets¹⁵. Recent estimates indicate a significant reduction in US longline bycatch from previous years that is very likely attributable to the use of effective seabird avoidance measures, with an average of 130 birds killed per year in longline fisheries in Alaska and Hawaii between 2004-6 ²⁸. Bycatch rates in the Japanese and Taiwanese longline fleets are still largely unknown. However, analysis of adult survival rates has identified an impact of fisheries mortality²², and comparisons of the estimated magnitude of bycatch with maximum possible growth rate indicate a non-negligible impact of bycatch ²⁹. Satellite tracking studies that show that post-breeding birds disperse over large distances to the oceanographic 'transition zone' where they are susceptible to bycatch in the US and foreign pelagic longline fleets^{18, 19, 21}. Other threats include pollution (including organochlorines and heavy metals)^{1,12, 26}, loss of nests to waves⁵, introduced predators¹⁰, oiling, plastic ingestion and volcanic eruption on Torishima⁸.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	Conservation actions underway: All Hawaiian breeding localities are part of the US National Wildlife Refuge system or State of Hawaii Seabird Sanctuaries. In 1991, a 50 Nautical Mile Protected Species Zone was established around the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. No longline fishing is allowed in this zone. In 2006, the Papahânaumokuâkea Marine National Monument was established. Nearly 80% of the breeding population is counted directly or sampled every year. All sites except one have been surveyed since 1991⁵. Hawaiian longline fishing vessels are required to use a range of measures to reduce seabird bycatch. In December 2006, the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission passed a measure to require large tuna and swordfish longline vessels to use at least two seabird bycatch mitigation measures when fishing north of 23 degrees North. Conservation actions proposed: Continue monitoring population trends and demographic parameters. Continue satellite-tracking studies to assess temporal and spatial overlap with longline fisheries. Adopt best-practice mitigation measures in longline fisheries within the species' range. Revaluate the location of the current boundary (23^o N) for required use of seabird mitigation measures in the U.S. pelagic longline fisheries¹⁸.

Conservation Actions:

Conservation actions underway:

All Hawaiian breeding localities are part of the US National Wildlife Refuge system or State of Hawaii Seabird Sanctuaries. In 1991, a 50 Nautical Mile Protected Species Zone was established around the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. No longline fishing is allowed in this zone. In 2006, the Papahânaumokuâkea Marine National Monument was established. Nearly 80% of the breeding population is counted directly or sampled every year. All sites except one have been surveyed since 1991⁵. Hawaiian longline fishing vessels are required to use a range of measures to reduce seabird bycatch. In December 2006, the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission passed a measure to require large tuna and swordfish longline vessels to use at least two seabird bycatch mitigation measures when fishing north of 23 degrees North.

Conservation actions proposed:

Continue monitoring population trends and demographic parameters. Continue satellite-tracking studies to assess temporal and spatial overlap with longline fisheries. Adopt best-practice mitigation measures in longline fisheries within the species' range. Revaluate the location of the current boundary (23^o N) for required use of seabird mitigation measures in the U.S. pelagic longline fisheries¹⁸.

Citation:	BirdLife International 2008. Phoebastria nigripes. In: IUCN 2009. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2009.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 21 November 2009.
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