Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2022L00775:reg:18:p11
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2022L00775
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 18 (pt 11/152)
Character Range: 69493–72643

involve perimeter fencing, minimising the area of ponded water, netting or intermittent noise to distract birds (Commonwealth of Australia 2016).
The recently discovered breeding sites of Tahiti Petrel (Pseudobulweria rostrata) in New Caledonia are all in areas threatened by nickel mining (Spaggiari and Baré 2004, Delelis et al. 2007, Le Breton 2008), with mining activities predicted to have severe negative impacts on breeding success and potential adult mortality through ingestion of harmful materials. Threats such as these need to be minimised to avoid accelerating population declines.
Seabirds are known to aggregate around oil and gas platforms in above average numbers due to night lighting, flaring, food concentrations and other visual cues (Wiese et al. 2001). Bird mortality has been documented due to collision with the structure, oiling and incineration by the flares (Wiese et al. 2001). Implementing a comprehensive monitoring program of impacts of these offshore platforms should include nature, timing and extent of bird mortality caused by these structures. This information can then be used to better inform regulators responsible for exploration and extraction proposals.
Proposals for oil and mineral exploration and exploitation should be adequately assessed and, as appropriate, conditions imposed to ensure there are no adverse effects on seabirds or their habitats.

Wildlife Conservation Plan for Seabirds 27

 Threats

 Renewable energy

Marine renewable energy developments (MREDs) are becoming an increasing feature of the marine environment. MREDs are just one of several infrastructure developments in the marine environment that have the potential to impact seabirds. Globally, there is potential for generating energy from the marine environment in the form of extensive wind, wave and tidal-stream resources. However, the potential effects of MREDs on seabirds are not yet fully understood. Seabirds may be directly affected through collision with infrastructure or indirectly affected by displacement from foraging areas. A key question is how MREDs may affect seabird foraging success through changes in foraging behaviour and will be key to understanding whether large-scale installations could have impacts at a population level.
A key research area needed to address this issue is to better understand seabird distribution and foraging behaviour. This information will improve our understanding and be able to better predict adverse impacts in seabird populations.
Terrestrial windfarms in Tasmania have been reported to kill seabirds including diving-petrels, shearwaters, prions, storm-petrels and gannets from bird strikes (Hull et al. 2013). Species with large wingspans and relatively slow wingbeats are known to be susceptible to striking terrestrial windfarms, suggesting White-bellied Sea-Eagles, albatrosses and larger petrels may be at risk if offshore windfarms are constructed. Floating solar fields or deployment of solar fields over marine saltfield ponds and wastewater ponds may limit foraging opportunities for seabirds, conversely these may increase undesired roosting activity,