Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2022L00775:reg:18:p3
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2022L00775
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 18 (pt 3/152)
Character Range: 47329–50412

marine ecosystems have been linked to strengthening warm currents and ocean warming (Ridgway 2007; Steinacher et al. 2010; Wu et al. 2012). In Australia, marine productivity has decreased as a result of the strengthening East Australian Current and warming waters (Ridgway 2007, Wu et al. 2012) which is likely to affect seabirds (e.g. foraging impacts and distribution changes (Carroll et al. 2016; Gorta et al. 2019)). For example, high seabird diversity in the Tasman Sea is subject to increasing rates of ocean warming and decreases in productivity which is likely to adversely impact species in that region (Mott and Clarke 2018).
Several seabird species have been identified as being at high risk from exposure to climate change and sensitive to climate change (Garnett and Franklin 2014). These species include: White-bellied Storm-petrel (Tasman Sea), Wedge-tailed Shearwater, Little Shearwater (Tasman Sea), Soft-plumaged Petrel, White-necked Petrel, Kermadec Petrel and Masked Booby (Tasman Sea). Many other seabirds listed by Garnett and Franklin (2014) are sensitive to climate change and their exposure to climate change varies. Understanding the impacts of climate change on these species, and the management response, will vary. The impact of climate change on Australian's seabirds requires further research that will inform actions that inform adaptation and resilience.

Projected sea level rises are likely to adversely affect beach-nesting seabirds such as terns and noddies in the short term, followed by ground nesting seabirds like gulls, boobies and burrowing species such as penguins, shearwaters and petrels on low lying coastal areas, islands and cays.

A reduction in the emissions of greenhouse gases requires an internationally coordinated effort. Australia is a signatory to relevant international agreements, and has made a commitment to limit, and reduce, greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, the states and territories are pursuing additional opportunities to abate greenhouse gas emissions in a cost-effective and environmentally sensitive manner.

Wildlife Conservation Plan for Seabirds 21
 Threats

 El Niño Southern Oscillation
Long-term climatic cycles caused by El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events can have profound effects on seabird colonies and breeding success (Schreiber and Burger 2002; Surman and Nicholson 2009; Chambers et al. 2013). For example, northward irruption of Southern Ocean species and subsequent mortalities are a feature of strong ENSO events. Oceanographic parameters play an important role in determining the distribution of many pelagic seabird species. The position of the front of the East Australian Current, the Subantarctic Convergence and the Leeuwin Current are all major cyclical features affecting marine productivity and seabird distributions in Australia.
Generally, effects of ENSO events on seabirds are seen first in the central Pacific where they develop and are the most severe, but parallel oceanographic and atmospheric changes occur in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans (Schreiber and