Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2022L00775:reg:18:p41
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2022L00775
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 18 (pt 41/152)
Character Range: 153732–156710

the main determinants of the current breeding distribution. The species may be at risk of incidental capture in longline fisheries, but as yet, no significant effects of bycatch on adult mortality have been documented (Waugh et al. 2012). Due to the species foraging habit and wide range overlapping with commercial fishing areas, it is thought to suffer a heightened risk of mortality from oil spills and other marine pollution. Light pollution at night may be an important cause of mortality in some areas, and tourism and recreational developments may reduce available habitat in breeding colonies (del Hoyo et al. 2019).

Recommended Management Actions
      Determine non-breeding areas and migration routes

      Work with range states to control, or eradicate invasive species on breeding islands

Wildlife Conservation Plan for Seabirds 71
 Species profiles

 Wedge-tailed Shearwater (Ardenna pacifica)

 Life History and Distribution
The Wedge-tailed Shearwater (Ardenna pacifica) is a large, lightly built polymorphic shearwater found in the subtropical and tropical Pacific and Indian Oceans between latitudes 35°N and 35°S. The species closely resembles Buller's Shearwater (A. bulleri) in size and shape. The species occurs in a wide variety of marine habitats, from well inshore to shelf-edge and oceanic waters. Numerous breeding colonies occur on offshore islands along the Western Australian coast, New South Wales and on islands and cays in the Great Barrier Reef, particularly the Capricorn – Bunker Group. Large numbers breed on islands in the Coral Sea Marine Park. The species also breeds on Cocos (Keeling), West Island of Ashmore Marine Park, Lord Howe and Norfolk Islands. It feeds mostly on fish, with some cephalopods and crustaceans. It catches prey mainly on the wing by dipping but also by surface-seizing or pursuit-plunging. Usually solitary or in small parties at sea, but often in large feeding flocks with other species, particularly Sooty Tern (Onychoprion fuscata) and Common Noddy (Anous stolidus). The species will congregate around schooling fish and will often attend trawlers and smaller fishing boats.

 Population Estimates and Trends
Brooke (2004) estimated the global population to number >5,200,000 individuals. Australia hosts a large proportion of the global population with approximately 1.1 million pairs breeding in Western Australia (Burbidge et al. 1996) and 560,000 breeding pairs in the Capricorn – Bunker Group, where 95 per cent of the Queensland population occur (Dyer et al 2005). Monitoring data by QPWS&P at Capricornia Cays indicate that there has been almost 40 per cent decline in Wedge-tailed Shearwater population of a 15 year period. Total estimates for North West Island, Heron Island Mast Head and Lady Musgrave in across the 1996-2000 period was 528,909 pairs. Populations of Wedge-tailed Shearwater had declined to 338,836 pairs by 2012–2015 survey period (Hemson 2015). There is no indication