Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2022L01285:reg:13:p78
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2022L01285
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 13 (pt 78/98)
Character Range: 448069–451662

Jurisdiction

Chatham Islands    New Zealand

Endemic to the Chatham Islands (New Zealand) with one breeding site on the Pyramid (ACAP 2012h). Chatham Albatross breed annually, when successful. Adults arrive at colonies in late August with females laying a single egg in September/October that hatches after incubation period of 9-10 weeks in November/December (Robertson et al. 2000). Fledging of chicks occurs after approximately four months in March/April (Robertson 1985). Data are not available for mean breeding success (ACAP 2012h). The Chatham Albatross disperses in the higher latitudes of the Pacific Ocean to South America. Juveniles return to colonies when at least four years of age, and begin breeding when seven years of age (Robertson et al. 2000). Generation length is estimated at 19.0 years (Bird et al. 2020).

Species distribution in Australia

Australia is within the foraging range of the Chatham Albatross (Figure 15). Tracking studies and at-sea records indicate that dispersal from the breeding colonies is generally in the higher latitudes of the Pacific Ocean to South America (BirdLife International 2004, Onley & Scofield 2007, ACAP 2012h), with some birds recorded in waters adjacent to south-eastern and sub-Antarctic Australia (Reid & James 1997), as well as southern Africa (Ryan 2002).

Population estimates and trends

The global population is considered stable, although this assessment requires confirmation, as there is no trend available for the species over three generations (Croxall & Gales 1998, BirdLife International 2018s). There were an estimated 5250 breeding pairs in 2017 (ACAP 2022).

Habitat critical to survival of species

The species is limited to one breeding site in the Chatham Islands (New Zealand) on the Pyramid (ACAP 2012h).

Threats

The risk matrix for the Chatham Albatross is provided at Table 34, with the threats occurring in Australia's jurisdiction highlighted.
Table 34: Chatham Albatross (Thalassarche eremita) risk matrix.
Likelihood of occurrence  Consequences

Not significant           Minor         Moderate                                                          Major                                                                                                                                       Catastrophic

Almost certain                          Competition with native species: habitat damage by fur seals      Fisheries interactions: pelagic longline, demersal longline, trawl

                                        Marine pollution: marine plastics ingestion

Likely                                                                                                    Climate variability and change: habitat damage from severe storms, heat stress and degradation of nesting habitat from higher temperatures

Possible                                Human disturbance: at nesting sites from take of chicks for food

Unlikely

Rare or Unknown

Note: Threats occurring in Australia's jurisdiction are highlighted in bold.
Figure 15: Modelled Australian distribution of Chatham Albatross (Thalassarche eremita).

Thalassarche impavida Campbell Albatross Mathews 1912
Family: Diomedeidae

Taxonomy

Thalassarche impavida Mathews 1912 is accepted nomenclature for the Campbell Albatross (ACAP 2012g). 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 Thalassarche melanophris impavida Mathews 1912. The Campbell Albatross was considered polytypic until it was