Thalassarche steadi

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

View Printer Friendly

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

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Near Threatened ver 3.1

Year Published:

2010

Assessor/s:

BirdLife International

Reviewer/s:

Calvert, R., Butchart, S., Bird, J.

Contributor/s:

Gales, R., Double, M., Robertson, C., Scofield, P., Ryan, P., Watkins, B.

Justification:
The population trend of this species 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:

2008	–	Near Threatened
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 offshore islands of New Zealand, with an estimated breeding population of approximately 95,000 pairs²⁶. Populations are distributed predominantly on Disappointment Island (91,500 pairs)²⁶, Auckland (5,000 pairs)²⁶ 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 specific identification. However, genetic evidence from a bird on South Georgia confirmed the species was T. steadi¹⁸. In addition, tracking studies²¹, bird band recoveries²⁴ and DNA-based identification of bycatch specimens¹⁶ have confirmed that this species forages in Tasmania and Southern Africa/Namibia²⁴, and immature birds 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. Although global counts of T. steadi have increased from 75,000 breeding pairs in 1993 to a current estimate of 97,089 pairs, the estimates are not based on comparable methodologies and therefore population trends cannot be calculated. The need for accurate trend information is highlighted by the report of an estimated 8,000 albatrosses of this species killed annually as a result of longline and trawl fisheries²⁶.
Countries:	Native: Australia; Namibia; New Zealand; South Africa; United States; United States Present - origin uncertain: Angola; Argentina; Brazil; Chile; Falkland Islands (Malvinas); French Southern Territories (the); Heard Island and McDonald Islands; Madagascar; Mauritius; Mozambique; Norfolk Island; Peru; Réunion; Saint Helena; South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands; Uruguay
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	The global estimated breeding population is approximately 95,000 pairs (Petersen et al. 2009)
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	Behaviour The White-capped Albatross breeds annually in colonies, though recent studies suggest it may breed biennially²⁶. However, the breeding frequency and season for this species is poorly known¹⁷. Eggs are usually laid mid-November and hatch in February. Chicks are thought to fledge in mid-August, though a fledging period of June-July may be more likely. Some adults remain near the colonies year-round²⁶. Habitat Breeding Colonies are generally located on rock islands. Diet 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:	Terrestrial; Marine

Habitat and Ecology:

Behaviour The White-capped Albatross breeds annually in colonies, though recent studies suggest it may breed biennially²⁶. However, the breeding frequency and season for this species is poorly known¹⁷. Eggs are usually laid mid-November and hatch in February. Chicks are thought to fledge in mid-August, though a fledging period of June-July may be more likely. Some adults remain near the colonies year-round²⁶. Habitat Breeding Colonies are generally located on rock islands. Diet 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:

Terrestrial; 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. In 2005 and 2006, T. steadi spent 85% of their time in southern African trawl grounds²⁶. 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. In 2005 and 2006, T. steadi spent 85% of their time in southern African trawl grounds²⁶. 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 2010. Thalassarche steadi. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 24 May 2012.
Disclaimer:	To make use of this information, please check the <Terms of Use>.
Feedback:	If you see any errors or have any questions or suggestions on what is shown on this page, please fill in the feedback form so that we can correct or extend the information provided