Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2022L01285:reg:13:p64
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2022L01285
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 13 (pt 64/98)
Character Range: 404712–408082

2004; Walker et al. 2017). Mean annual breeding success has been averaged at 63% annually (Walker and Elliott 1999, Walker & Elliott 2002). Antipodean Albatross disperse over the Tasman Sea and South Pacific Ocean (Marchant & Higgins 1990). Juveniles return to the breeding colonies when three years of age and individuals do not begin breeding until they are seven years of age. Generation length is estimated at 25.9 years (Bird et al. 2020).

Species distribution in Australia

Australia is within the foraging range of the Antipodean Albatross (Figure 8). Tracking studies indicate that the birds from the Antipodes Islands mostly forage in the Pacific Ocean east of New Zealand, and the range of non-breeding birds is larger than that of breeders (BirdLife International 2004, Walker & Elliott 2006, ACAP 2012b). Non-breeding males have the largest range, foraging off the coast of Chile, Antarctica and in the tropical South Pacific. Birds from the Auckland Islands use differing foraging strategies according to sex, with females tending to frequent the Tasman Sea in the vicinity of 40°S, while males either disperse westwards at lower latitudes or travel north-east towards the mid-Pacific Ocean (Elliot et al. 1995). Non-breeding male and female birds forage westwards to the south-eastern Indian Ocean, including southern and sub-Antarctic Australia (BirdLife International 2004, Walker & Elliott 2006, ACAP 2012b).

Population estimates and trends

Projected very rapid population decline of the global population over three generations (BirdLife International 2018b). A dramatic population crash occurred at the Antipodes Islands in 2005, and adult males from this breeding population have been declining annually at 6% and females at 12% (Walker & Elliott 2017). The decline appears in large part due to very high female mortality, in some years up to 20%, though reduced breeding success and increased recruitment age have exacerbated the problem (Elliot & Walker 2020). There were an estimated 7100 breeding pairs in 2020 (ACAP 2022).

Habitat critical to survival of species

Species is limited to six breeding sites in New Zealand on the Antipodes Islands, Auckland Islands and Campbell Island, with the largest colony on Antipodes Island (ACAP 2012b).

Threats

The risk matrix for the Antipodean Albatross is provided at Table 26, with the threats occurring in Australia's jurisdiction highlighted.

Table 26: Antipodean Albatross (Diomedea antipodensis) risk matrix.
Likelihood of occurrence  Consequences

Not significant           Minor         Moderate                                                                                 Major                                                                                                                                             Catastrophic

Almost certain                          Marine pollution: heavy metal contamination Marine pollution: marine plastics ingestion  Climate variability and change: habitat damage from severe storms, heat stress from higher temperatures, variation in Southern Oscillation Index  Fisheries interactions: pelagic longline

Likely                                  Introduced pest species: predation by cats, pigs

Possible

Unlikely

Rare or Unknown

Note: Threats occurring in Australia's jurisdiction are highlighted in bold.
Figure 8: Modelled Australian