Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2022L01285:reg:3:p4
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2022L01285
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 3 (pt 4/26)
Character Range: 79980–83083

Threats from human disturbance at or adjacent to breeding sites including direct habitat destruction, damage, and disturbance, as well as interactions with built structures and artificial lighting.

Coastal development involves the progressive encroachment of natural coastal habitat for human use. Such development has occurred and may occur onshore or on offshore islands. Encroachment of this natural habitat may directly reduce areas used by albatrosses and petrels as breeding sites. Adjacent coastal development may disturb breeding sites due to increased ambient noise, artificial light pollution, and barriers to movement. Additionally, coastal development may directly damage or destroy nesting habitat. As well, disturbance, habitat damage and predation may occur if domestic animals are allowed to stray or enter previously undisturbed natural habitat that is used by albatrosses and petrels as breeding sites.
Australia's albatross and petrel breeding populations are located on remote, offshore islands where coastal development is not presently a significant concern. Prior use of offshore islands, such as for sealing and feather collecting, abated by the early 20th Century. Access to islands where there are breeding populations of albatrosses and petrels is prescribed. Although there are permanent research stations located on Macquarie Island, and near to each of the Frazier Islands, Giganteus Island and Hawker Island in the AAT, all human activities are subject to management plans that aim to avoid or minimise disturbance of albatross and petrel breeding sites.
Coastal development of wind farm turbine infrastructure is an emerging issue, with wind farm proposals being considered for sites along the southern Australian coastline, and on offshore islands, for example in Bass Strait.
Many of the breeding sites for albatross and petrel species that breed beyond Australia's jurisdiction are located on remote offshore islands (Croxall et al. 2012). At some of these locations there are also local human populations with associated direct and indirect impacts on the breeding sites. As well, on the South Island of New Zealand there are breeding populations of Northern Royal Albatross (at Taiaroa Head) (ACAP 2012o) and Westland Petrel (at Punakaiki) (ACAP 2012w), which are also at risk of human disturbance.
Wildlife tourism is a worldwide phenomenon that attracts many visitors, in the early 2000s, more than 700 million usually organised trips were offered worldwide (Higginbottom 2004). However, wildlife tourism takes many forms ranging from non-organised or supervised wildlife observations or interactions to guided and carefully managed ecotourism ventures (Packer & Ballantyne 2013). Among wildlife tourism activities, bird watching ranks very high, and seabird colonies are particularly attractive tourist destinations (for example, Yorio et al. 2001). Wildlife tourism, recreational boating and fishing may disturb albatrosses and petrels at their breeding sites, as well as foraging birds adjacent to these locations.

Introduced invasive species
Threats from