Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2022L01285:reg:13:p71
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2022L01285
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 13 (pt 71/98)
Character Range: 426451–429945

Annual breeding success estimated for one site varied significantly, averaging 58% (range 10-85%) (Weimerskirch & Jouventin 1998). The Sooty Albatross disperses widely in the southern Atlantic Ocean and southern Indian Ocean. Juveniles return to breeding colonies when eight years old, and begin beginning breeding at an average age of 12 years of age (Weimerskirch et al. 1987). Generation length is estimated at 21.1 years (Bird et al. 2020).

Species distribution in Australia

Australia is within the foraging range of the Sooty Albatross (Figure 12). Tracking studies indicate that dispersal is generally between 30-60°S in the southern Atlantic Ocean and southern Indian Ocean, but may extend to between 10-65°S, and includes southern and sub-Antarctic Australia (Tickell 2000, BirdLife International 2004, ACAP 2012r).

Population estimates and trends

The global population is experiencing a very rapid decline over three generations, but there is uncertainty about the trend due to variability between population counts (BirdLife International 2018h). There were an estimated 12,000 breeding pairs in 2021 (ACAP 2022).

Habitat critical to survival of species

Species is limited to 15 breeding sites on island groups of France (Amsterdam Island, Crozet Islands, Kerguelen Islands, Saint Paul Island), and South Africa (Marion Island, Prince Edward Island), and Tristan de Cunha (United Kingdom), with the largest population on Gough Island at Tristan da Cunha (ACAP 2012r).

Threats

The risk matrix for the Sooty Albatross is provided at Table 30, with the threats occurring in Australia's jurisdiction highlighted.
Table 30: Sooty Albatross (Phoebetria fusca) risk matrix.
Likelihood of occurrence  Consequences

Not significant           Minor         Moderate                                     Major                                                              Catastrophic

Almost certain                          Marine pollution: heavy metal contamination  Fisheries interactions: pelagic longline

                                        Marine pollution: marine plastics ingestion  Introduced pest species: predation by cats, ship rats, house mice

Likely                                                                               Disease: avian cholera, Erysipelas outbreaks

Possible

Unlikely

Rare or Unknown

Note: Threats occurring in Australia's jurisdiction are highlighted in bold.
Figure 12: Modelled Australian distribution of Sooty Albatross (Phoebetria fusca).

Thalassarche bulleri Buller's Albatross (Rothschild 1893)
Family: Diomedeidae

Taxonomy

Thalassarche bulleri (Rothschild 1893) nomenclature for Buller's Albatross remains under debate (Double 2006, ACAP 2012f). There has been significant taxonomic debate about the classification of Diomedeidae including, but not limited to, the introduction of the genus Thalassarche by Reichenbach (1852). Originally Diomedea bulleri Rothschild 1893 and Diomedea platei Reichenow 1898, with the latter later considered by Murphy (1936) as a juvenile plumage phase of the former. Buller's Albatross was included in the resurrected genus Thalassarche (Reichenbach 1852) at the specific level based on genetic analyses (Nunn et al. 1996). Thalassarche bulleri is listed under the EPBC Act at the specific level, with Thalassarche bulleri platei (Northern Buller's Albatross) listed as a subspecies. Robertson & Nunn (1998) suggested Thalassarche bulleri and Thalassarche platei as distinct terminal taxa based