Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2022L01285:reg:13:p83
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2022L01285
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 13 (pt 83/98)
Character Range: 463189–466723

breeding (ACAP 2012x). Generation length is estimated at 19.2 years (Bird et al. 2020).

Species distribution in Australia

Australia is within the foraging range of the White-capped Albatross (Figure 18). Tracking studies indicate that dispersal from the breeding colonies is generally in the higher latitudes of the southern hemisphere including waters adjacent to south-eastern Australia, particularly north-east of Tasmania (BirdLife International 2004, ACAP 2012x). At sea records are problematic due to similarities between, and overlapping range of White-capped Albatross and Shy Albatross (Abbott et al. 2006a).

Population estimates and trends

There is no global population trend information available for the species over three generations (BirdLife International 2018w). There were an estimated 62,900 breeding pairs in 2017 (ACAP 2022).

Habitat critical to survival of species

The species is limited to five breeding sites on the Auckland Islands, and Antipodes Islands (New Zealand), with the largest population on Disappointment Island in the Auckland Islands (ACAP 2012x).

Threats

The risk matrix for the White-capped Albatross is provided at Table 37, with the threats occurring in Australia's jurisdiction highlighted.
Table 37: White-capped Albatross (Thalassarche steadi) risk matrix.
Likelihood of occurrence  Consequences

Not significant           Minor         Moderate                                     Major                                                               Catastrophic

Almost certain                          Marine pollution: marine plastics ingestion  Fisheries interactions: pelagic longline, demersal longline, trawl  Introduced pest species: predation by cats, habitat degradation and predation by pigs

Likely

Possible

Unlikely

Rare or Unknown

Note: Threats occurring in Australia's jurisdiction are highlighted in bold.
Figure 18: Modelled Australian distribution of White-capped Albatross (Thalassarche steadi).

Petrel species only foraging in Australia's jurisdiction

Procellaria aequinoctialis White-chinned Petrel Linnaeus 1758
Family: Diomedeidae

Taxonomy

Procellaria aequinoctialis Linnaeus 1758 is accepted nomenclature for the White-chinned Petrel. Originally Procellaria aequinoctialis Linnaeus 1758. The White-chinned Petrel was considered polytypic with Procellaria conspicillata (Spectacled Petrel) until Ryan (1998) proposed recognition at the specific level based on morphology and demographic differences, a view also supported by genetic differences (Techow et al 2009). ACAP has concluded on advice from its Taxonomy Working Group that available data warrant recognition of the White-chinned Petrel at the specific level with the nomenclature widely accepted (Brooke et al. 2007, ACAP 2012y).

Current status of taxon

Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Commonwealth): not listed
Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 (Western Australia): Vulnerable
National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972 (South Australia): not listed
Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 (Victoria): not listed
Threatened Species Protection Act 1995 (Tasmania): not listed
Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 (New South Wales): not listed
Nature Conservation Act 1992 (Queensland): Least Concern
IUCN Red list of Threatened Species: Vulnerable
Action Plan for Australian Birds 2020: population visiting Australia Least Concern

Species description

A small Procellaria petrel, the White-chinned Petrel is approximately 50-55 cm in length, 1.1-1.5 kg in weight, with