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Thalassarche melanophrys
– Endangered
Taxonomy
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Kingdom:
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ANIMALIA
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Phylum:
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CHORDATA
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Class:
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AVES
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Order:
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PROCELLARIIFORMES
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Family:
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DIOMEDEIDAE
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Scientific Name:
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Thalassarche melanophrys
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Species Authority:
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(Temminck, 1828)
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Common Name/s:
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| English | — | BLACK-BROWED ALBATROSS |
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Taxonomic Notes:
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Diomedea melanophris (Sibley and Monroe 1990, 1993) has been split into melanophrys and impavida and both transferred to the genus Thalassarche following Robertson and Nunn (1998) and Brooke (2004).
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Assessment Information
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Red List Category & Criteria:
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EN A4bd ver 3.1 (2001)
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Year Assessed:
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2005
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Assessor/s:
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BirdLife International
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Evaluator/s:
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Stattersfield, A. (BirdLife International Red List Authority) & Sullivan, B. (BirdLife International Global Seabirds Programme)
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Justification:
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This species is listed as Endangered because it is inferred to be declining at a rate of c.65% over three generations (65 years) on the basis of current rates of decline at its major stronghold, owing to the impact of incidental mortality in longline fisheries.
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History:
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| 2000 | - | Lower Risk/near threatened (BirdLife International 2000) |
| 2002 | - | Vulnerable (IUCN 2002) |
| 2003 | - | Endangered (IUCN 2003) |
| 2004 | - | Endangered (BirdLife International 2004) |
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Geographic Range
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Range Description:
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Thalassarche melanophrys breeds at twelve sites in the Falkland Islands (to UK), Islas Diego Ramirez, Ildefonso, Diego de Almagro and Isla Evangelistas (Chile), South Georgia (South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands [to UK]), Crozet and Kerguelen Islands (French Southern Territories), Heard and McDonald Islands (to Australia), Macquarie island (Australia), and Campbell, Antipodes and Snares islands, New Zealand1. Its total breeding population was estimated at c.680,000 pairs, 80% at the Falkland Islands, 10% at South Georgia and 3% in Chile1, more recently revised to c.530,000, 60% in the Falkland Islands, 20% at South Georgia and 20% in Chile7,21,26. Populations at Bird Island (15% of the South Georgia total) and Kerguelen have declined by 35% since 1989/1990 and 17% between 1978/1979 and 1994/1995, respectively2,13. Numbers at Diego Ramirez decreased during the 1980s, but appear to have recovered recently10,19. Numbers in the Falklands apparently increased substantially during the 1980s1,4, probably attributable to abundant offal and discards from trawl fisheries12. However, a full census of Falkland Islands populations has shown declines at most colonies, with a sharp decrease at Steeple Jason and Beauchêne islands (68% of the Falklands total)7. Overall, it is estimated that in the last 20 years, the population in the Falkland Islands has decreased from around 506,000 to 382,000 breeding pairs, and from 468,000 to 382,000 in the last five years alone7. A sub-sample survey of the Steeple Jason population in 2003 suggests the decline is continuing at a similar rate23. The small population on Heard Island (c.600 pairs) appears to have increased over the past 50 years22.
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Countries:
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Native:
Angola; Argentina; Australia; Brazil; Chile; Falkland Islands (Malvinas); French Southern Territories; Heard Island and McDonald Islands; Namibia; New Zealand; Peru; South Africa; South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands; Uruguay
Vagrant:
Antarctica
Uncertain presence and origin:
Ecuador
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FAO Marine Fishing Areas:
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Native:
Atlantic-Antarctic; Atlantic-southeast; Atlantic-southwest; Indian Ocean-Antarctic; Indian Ocean-eastern; Indian Ocean-western; Pacific-Antarctic; Pacific-southeast; Pacific-southwest; Pacific-western central
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Population
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Population Trend:
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Habitat and Ecology
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Habitat and Ecology:
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It nests colonially on steep slopes with tussock grass, sometimes on cliff terraces and also on flat ground along the shore line. It feeds mainly on crustaceans, fish and squid, and also on carrion14.
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System:
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Terrestrial; Marine
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Threats
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Threats:
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Declines may be attributable to increased longline fishing effort and/or the development of new longline fisheries over much of the Patagonian Shelf, around South Georgia, off the southern African coast, and in the Southern Ocean8,9,11,15. Indeed, it is one of the most frequently killed species in many longline fisheries5,9,11,16,17,18,23. It is also killed in significant numbers by trawl fisheries20.
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Conservation Actions
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Conservation Actions:
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Conservation measures underway:
CMS Appendix II and ACAP Annex 1. It is monitored at South Georgia, Kerguelen, Campbell, Diego Ramirez and the Falkland Islands. Most breeding sites are reserves. Heard and McDonald, Macquarie, and the New Zealand Islands are World Heritage Sites. An initial census of Chilean islands has been completed21.
Conservation measures proposed:
Conduct complete censuses at all sites at three to five year intervals (South Georgia, Chile and French Southern Territories) and continue monitoring and research programmes at all sites. Assess the true impact of trawl fisheries bycatch. Promote adoption of a) monitoring of seabirds bycatch associated with longline fishing and b) best-practice mitigation measures in all fisheries within the species's range, particularly via existing and proposed intergovernmental mechanisms under the auspices of CCAMLR, CMS, FAO and NPOAs of relevant countries.
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