Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2022L01285:reg:13:p90
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2022L01285
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 13 (pt 90/98)
Character Range: 490559–493490

Macquarie Island, Heard Island and McDonald Islands and the AAT host several species of albatrosses and petrels. Many of these populations are very small and are critical for maintaining the genetic diversity necessary to ensure the viability of these species in Australia.
There are no other islands within Australia's jurisdiction that are considered to be potential or former breeding habitat for albatrosses and petrels.
A brief description is provided below about each albatross and petrel breeding location within Australia's jurisdiction including information on their protection status, geography, flora, fauna, and the effects of human occupation.

Macquarie Island (and Bishop and Clerk Islets): 54°37'S, 158°51'E and 55°06'S, 158°41'E, respectively
Species
The following albatross and petrel species covered by this recovery plan breed on Macquarie Island (and Bishop and Clerk Islets):
    * Wandering Albatross

    * Black-browed Albatross

    * Grey-headed Albatross

    * Light-mantled Albatross

    * Southern Giant Petrel

    * Northern Giant Petrel

    * Grey Petrel.
Protection status
    * designated a Biosphere Reserve in 1977

    * designated a Nature Reserve in 1978

    * Macquarie Island Management Plan implemented in 1991

    * designated a World Heritage Area in 1997
Geography
Macquarie Island is located in the Southern Ocean, about 1500 km south-east of Hobart, Tasmania, 40 km from the Antarctic Convergence. This sub-Antarctic island is the exposed crest of the Macquarie Ridge. The island is 32 km long by 5 km wide at its broadest point and about 13 000 ha. It rises abruptly from the ocean to form an undulating plateau, usually between 200-300 m above sea level, with a maximum altitude of 433 m. The north-western portion of the island is fringed by a raised beach terrace 15 m above sea level and up to 1 km wide.
Bishop and Clerk Islets lie 37 km to the south of Macquarie Island. These small islets are poorly known because of difficulty of access. They are mostly barren rock less than 50 m high and are geologically similar to the main island (Selkirk et al. 1990).
Flora
There are no trees on Macquarie Island. However, there are 45 species of vascular plants, as well as numerous moss and lichen species. These species are often associated to form one of five vegetation communities: feldmark, grasslands, herbfield, fen and bog. Three plant species are endemic to Macquarie Island: Azorella macquariensis, Corybas dienemus, and Puccinellia macquariensis. Five introduced plant species have become naturalised (Selkirk et al. 1990). The cushion-like Colobanthus muscoides is the only vascular plant on Bishop and Clerk Islets (Parks & Wildlife Service 2006).
Fauna
Macquarie Island is inhabited by a large variety of wildlife. About 86,500 Southern Elephant Seal (Mirounga leonina), fur seals (Arctocephalus spp.), and around 3.5 million seabirds breed on the island (Selkirk