Thalassarche steadi

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	AVES	Procellariiformes	Diomedeidae

Scientific Name:

Thalassarche steadi

Species Authority:

Falla, 1933

Common Name/s:

English

–

White-capped Albatross

Taxonomic Notes:

Diomedea cauta (Sibley and Monroe 1990, 1993) has been split into cauta, eremita and salvini following Brooke (2004) and steadi following Robertson & Nunn (1998), ACAP (2006) and all placed in the genus Thalassarche following Brooke (2004).

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Near Threatened 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:
The population trend of White-capped Albatross is poorly known. It is categorised as Near Threatened because, given its longevity and slow productivity, and a high rate of mortality recorded in longline and trawl fisheries, it may be declining at a moderately rapid rate.

History:

2007	–	Near Threatened
2004	–	Not Recognized
2000	–	Not Recognized
1994	–	Not Recognized
1988	–	Not Recognized

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Thalassarche steadi is endemic to off-shore islands of New Zealand, with an estimated breeding population of approximately 75,000 pairs^3,15. Populations are distributed predominantly on Disappointment Island (72,000 pairs), Auckland (3,000 pairs) and Adams Islands (100 pairs)^2,6 in the Auckland Island group, and Bollon's Island (c.100)⁷ in the Antipodes Island group. The population is estimated to comprise approximately 350,000-375,000 birds and limited information available suggests that some populations may be increasing⁶. 'Shy' type albatrosses have been recorded in the south-west Atlantic for many years ^18,.19. Most of the birds recorded are immature, which has hindered species identification. However, genetic evidence from a bird on South Georgia confirmed the species was White-capped Albatross ¹⁸. In addition, tracking studies²¹, bird band recoveries²⁴ and DNA-based identification of bycatch specimens¹⁶ have confirmed that White-capped Albatross forage in Tasmania and Southern Africa/Namibia²⁴, and immature birds of this species are thought to occur regularly throughout the South Atlantic and south-west Indian Ocean. The first tracking studies have commenced on Auckland Island in 2006 and are ongoing ²¹.
Countries:	Native: Australia; Namibia; New Zealand; South Africa
FAO Marine Fishing Areas:	Native: Atlantic – southeast; Indian Ocean – western
Range Map:	(click map to view full version)

Population [top]

Population:	The global population is estimated to number c.75,000 pairs^3,16, based on 72,000 pairs on Disappointment Island in 1993, 3,000 pairs on Auckland Island (unknown date), 50-100 pairs on the Antipodes Islands in 1994 (C. Robertson pers. comm.), and 100 pairs on Adams Island in 1993 (K. Walker pers. comm.). Hence, there are thought to be a minimum of 150,000 mature individuals. However, given the 10-15 years that have elapsed since these data were recorded, there is uncertainty associated with this estimate.

Population:

The global population is estimated to number c.75,000 pairs^3,16, based on 72,000 pairs on Disappointment Island in 1993, 3,000 pairs on Auckland Island (unknown date), 50-100 pairs on the Antipodes Islands in 1994 (C. Robertson pers. comm.), and 100 pairs on Adams Island in 1993 (K. Walker pers. comm.). Hence, there are thought to be a minimum of 150,000 mature individuals. However, given the 10-15 years that have elapsed since these data were recorded, there is uncertainty associated with this estimate.

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	White-capped Albatross breeds annually in colonies located on rock islands. However, the breeding frequency and season for this species is poorly known¹⁷. The main foods include, fish, cephalopods, crustaceans and tunicates. It is a ship-follower and fish processing discharge comprises a significant proportion of its diet. Birds are generally surface feeders, but may undertake shallow surface dives.
Systems:	Marine

Habitat and Ecology:

White-capped Albatross breeds annually in colonies located on rock islands. However, the breeding frequency and season for this species is poorly known¹⁷. The main foods include, fish, cephalopods, crustaceans and tunicates. It is a ship-follower and fish processing discharge comprises a significant proportion of its diet. Birds are generally surface feeders, but may undertake shallow surface dives.

Systems:

Marine

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	The geographic range of T. steadi brings them into contact with a variety of longline and trawl fisheries in New Zealand, the high seas and off the coast of South Africa and Namibia¹⁵. Although T. cauta ('shy-type') comprised 15% of all seabirds returned from longlines in New Zealand waters during 1988-1997⁶, New Zealand demersal and pelagic longline fisheries are currently considered to have a relatively low impact on T. steadi populations¹⁵. The Auckland Islands squid trawl fishery killed 2,300 adults in 1990 alone, most through collision with net monitor cables, which were phased out in 1992^2,6. However, birds are still killed by entanglement in nets and by collision with warp cables in trawl fisheries^6,15. This species is also the most frequently caught species in pelagic tuna longline operations off South Africa⁸. It is estimated that 7,000-11,000 T. steadi were killed in the South African pelagic longline fishery between 1998-2000⁸, and in 2005, an estimated 500-600 shy-type albatrosses were killed¹⁷. In the South African demersal trawl fishery, observer data from 2004-2005 produced an estimate of 7,700 shy type albatrosses killed annually. Subsequent DNA analysis indicated that these were all T. steadi¹⁶. Since the introduction of mandatory permit requirements in August 2006, whereby all vessels must deploy a bird streamer line, the bycatch rate has decreased but further data collection is required to establish a new catch estimate²². The impact of the large distant water fleets of Japan, Taiwan and Korea on T. steadi is largely unknown, but Japanese data from 2001-2002 indicate that at least 10% of recorded albatross mortalities were 'shy-type' albatrosses¹⁵. It has been estimated that 8,200 white-capped albatrosses are currently killed per annum, 75% of which are as a result of interactions with trawl fisheries in South African, Namibian and New Zealand¹⁵. Commercial exploitation of squid or fish reserves in Bass Strait could pose a threat to the species in the future by direct competition for food. On Auckland Island, the nesting area was significantly reduced during 1972-1982 because of interference by pigs, and feral cats may also take small numbers of chicks^2,6,20.

Major Threat(s):

The geographic range of T. steadi brings them into contact with a variety of longline and trawl fisheries in New Zealand, the high seas and off the coast of South Africa and Namibia¹⁵. Although T. cauta ('shy-type') comprised 15% of all seabirds returned from longlines in New Zealand waters during 1988-1997⁶, New Zealand demersal and pelagic longline fisheries are currently considered to have a relatively low impact on T. steadi populations¹⁵. The Auckland Islands squid trawl fishery killed 2,300 adults in 1990 alone, most through collision with net monitor cables, which were phased out in 1992^2,6. However, birds are still killed by entanglement in nets and by collision with warp cables in trawl fisheries^6,15. This species is also the most frequently caught species in pelagic tuna longline operations off South Africa⁸. It is estimated that 7,000-11,000 T. steadi were killed in the South African pelagic longline fishery between 1998-2000⁸, and in 2005, an estimated 500-600 shy-type albatrosses were killed¹⁷. In the South African demersal trawl fishery, observer data from 2004-2005 produced an estimate of 7,700 shy type albatrosses killed annually. Subsequent DNA analysis indicated that these were all T. steadi¹⁶. Since the introduction of mandatory permit requirements in August 2006, whereby all vessels must deploy a bird streamer line, the bycatch rate has decreased but further data collection is required to establish a new catch estimate²². The impact of the large distant water fleets of Japan, Taiwan and Korea on T. steadi is largely unknown, but Japanese data from 2001-2002 indicate that at least 10% of recorded albatross mortalities were 'shy-type' albatrosses¹⁵. It has been estimated that 8,200 white-capped albatrosses are currently killed per annum, 75% of which are as a result of interactions with trawl fisheries in South African, Namibian and New Zealand¹⁵. Commercial exploitation of squid or fish reserves in Bass Strait could pose a threat to the species in the future by direct competition for food. On Auckland Island, the nesting area was significantly reduced during 1972-1982 because of interference by pigs, and feral cats may also take small numbers of chicks^2,6,20.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	Conservation actions underway: CMS Appendix II and ACAP Annex 1. A five-year aerial survey program of the Disappointment Island population commenced in 2006-2007. The New Zealand Department of Conservation has recently contracted the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research to conduct demographic and tracking study of the Auckland Islands populations. Conservation actions proposed: Census populations on all New Zealand islands. Conduct regular monitoring of a representative proportion of the population. Determine the at-sea distribution of the species through tracking studies and the interaction with longline and trawl fisheries¹³. Promote the adoption of a) monitoring of seabird bycatch associated with longline and trawl fishing and b) best-practice mitigation measures in all fisheries within the species range, including via intergovernmental mechanisms such as ACAP, the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission and FAO.

Conservation Actions:

Conservation actions underway:

CMS Appendix II and ACAP Annex 1. A five-year aerial survey program of the Disappointment Island population commenced in 2006-2007. The New Zealand Department of Conservation has recently contracted the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research to conduct demographic and tracking study of the Auckland Islands populations.

Conservation actions proposed:

Census populations on all New Zealand islands. Conduct regular monitoring of a representative proportion of the population. Determine the at-sea distribution of the species through tracking studies and the interaction with longline and trawl fisheries¹³. Promote the adoption of a) monitoring of seabird bycatch associated with longline and trawl fishing and b) best-practice mitigation measures in all fisheries within the species range, including via intergovernmental mechanisms such as ACAP, the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission and FAO.

Citation:	BirdLife International 2008. Thalassarche steadi. In: IUCN 2009. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2009.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 09 February 2010.
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