Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2022L00775:reg:18:p108
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2022L00775
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 18 (pt 108/152)
Character Range: 337348–340303

Australia
        Regularly monitor breeding populations at index locations
        Determine non-breeding areas and migration routes
        Control, or eradicate invasive species on breeding islands
      Implement best practice quarantine measures at breeding colonies to reduce the risk of any invasive species (re)establishing on islands
Wildlife Conservation Plan for Seabirds 145
 Species profiles

 Black-naped Tern (Sterna sumatrana)

  Life History and Distribution
The Black-naped Tern (Sterna sumatrana) is a small slender tropical tern with a long slender bill, long narrow wings and a long deeply forked tail. Adults are pale grey above, with a white head, neck and underparts and a diagnostic narrow black band from eye to nape. This species ranges in tropical and subtropical areas of the Indian Ocean and western Pacific Ocean. In the western Indian Ocean it breeds on the Aldabra and Amirante Islands, Seychelles, Chagos Islands (British Indian Ocean Territory) and the Maldives and can be found on the eastern African coast. Its range in the eastern Indian Ocean and Pacific encompasses the Andaman Islands, India, east to southern Japan and China, south through Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and New Guinea to north-east Australia and some islands in the western-central Pacific (del Hoyo et al. 1996). This species frequents small offshore islands, reeds, sand spits and rocky cays, feeding in atoll lagoons and close inshore over breakers, but sometimes also at sea. It feeds mainly on small fish and will almost always forage singly by shallow plunge-diving or surface-diving. Its breeding season varies depending on locality, usually forming small colonies of 5 to 20 pairs, but sometimes up to 200 pairs. Colonies are often monospecific and formed on unlined depression in the sand or in gravel pockets on coral banks close to the high tide line (del Hoyo et al. 1996).

  Population Estimates and Trends
The global population size has not been quantified. The population trend is difficult to determine because of uncertainty over the extent of threats to the species (del Hoyo et al. 1996). Significant breeding populations occur in the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea Marine Park islands. The Australian population estimate and trends are unknown.

  Conservation Concerns and Actions
This species is extremely sensitive to disturbance, with relatively little disturbance needed to cause nest desertion (Department of the Environment 2019); however, most breeding locations are in remote locations, so this represents a relatively small threat to the species. Is prone to predation by invasive rats, which cause considerable losses due to chick and egg predation, and can lead to breeding failure (Department of the Environment 2019). It is possible that, in the future, climate change could have an adverse impact on food sources and breeding habitat.

  Recommended Management Actions
          Quantify the