Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2022L00775:reg:18:p33
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2022L00775
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 18 (pt 33/152)
Character Range: 131676–134790

estimated the global population to number 500,000 individuals. The Australian population is unknown.

  Conservation Concerns and Actions
  Black-bellied Storm-petrels are at risk of predation by invasive species such as rats.
  A number of individuals are killed each year due to light-induced collisions with boats.
  Storm-petrels are known to be vulnerable to oil pollution and marine debris.

  Recommended Management Actions
         Determine the relationship between breeding distribution and existing and projected marine productivity for Australian taxa

             Manage key sites to retain their value under projected climate change scenarios

             Gain an improved understanding of the at sea distribution in Southern Ocean

             Mitigate against impacts of light pollution by boats at sea

62 Wildlife Conservation Plan for Seabirds
Species profiles

 Cape Petrel (Daption capense)

Life History and Distribution
The Cape Petrel (Daption capense) is a distinctive, medium-sized, stockily built petrel with strikingly chequered and patterned black and white upperparts. The species has an extremely large range covering the entire Southern Ocean. The Cape Petrel is oceanic, occurring mainly over cold waters beyond the continental shelf but can be found over inshore waters during the breeding season. The main breeding grounds are on Antarctic and sub-Antarctic islands, including Auckland, Chatham and Campbell Islands. The breeding season starts in November with colonies of variable sizes being formed on cliffs or steep rocky slopes. It nests in shallow crevices, in scrape on rocky ledges, on stable beds of gravel or among boulders. During the breeding season, Cape Petrels feed predominately around Antarctica and the sub-Antarctic islands. Its diet comprises mainly of krill, but also fish, squid, offal, carrion and refuse from ships, acquiring food by hydroplaning, dipping whilst on the wing and surface diving. Cape Petrels are known to associate with whales and other seabirds and congregate in large flocks around trawlers.

Population Estimates and Trends
The global population is thought to exceed 2 million individuals (Brooke 2004). In the 1980s, the New Zealand breeding population was estimated to be between 5,000–10,000 pairs (Robertson and Bell 1984). There is a small breeding population at Macquarie Island, likely to be increasing at Macquarie Island after the successful Macquarie Island Pest Eradication Project (DPIPWE pers. comm). In 2003/04, breeding estimates from Heard Island are between 1,000–2,500 pairs (E. Woehler pers. comm). The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any decreases or substantial threats.

Conservation Concerns and Actions
Cape Petrels are known to be adversely impacted by invasive species on breeding islands. Ingestion of marine debris may impact some individuals.

Recommended Management Actions
        Gain an improved understanding of the at sea distribution in the Southern Ocean

        Quantify the breeding population on Heard Island

        Work with range states