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Although the global population of Southern Royal Albatross Diomedea epomophora is assumed to be stable, the species qualifies as globally Vulnerable due to its small breeding range and limited number of breeding sites which puts it at risk from stochastic effects. This species occurs regularly but in low numbers in South African territorial waters. The global threat status is also adopted as the regional status.
The Southern Royal Albatross is a New Zealand breeding endemic, with colonies present on Campbell Island (99% of the population) and the Auckland Islands. Juveniles leaving colonies in New Zealand rapidly head eastwards to the west coast of South America (Tickell 2000).
The global population is estimated at c. 27 500 mature individuals (BirdLife International 2014aw). The Campbell Island population was estimated at 7 855 breeding pairs between 2004-2008 (ACAP 2009d). In 2001, 69 pairs were present on Enderby Island (Childerhouse et al. 2003) and approximately 20 breed on Auckland and Adams islands (Croxall and Gales 1998). Based on the ratio used by Croxall and Gales (1998), an estimate of c. 7 900 annual breeding pairs (equivalent to c. 27 200 mature individuals) is provided. Confidence in this estimate is high. The number visiting South African waters is unknown.
Overall the population is thought to be stable and possibly increasing (BirdLife International 2014aw). The population on Campbell Island is likely to be stable or possibly increasing, based on whole-island counts conducted in 1994-1995 and study plot counts in 1996-1997 (Moore et al. 1997). More recent comprehensive counts in 2005-2008 reported an average of nearly 8 000 nests per year, another indication of a stable population (ACAP 2009d). The status of the very small colonies on the Adams and Auckland islands is not known (ACAP 2009d). Confidence in this trend estimate is medium.
Ecology
The Southern Royal Albatross is a biennial breeder provided it is successful in rearing the single chick. Birds return to their colonies in October (Brooke 2004) and lay eggs in late November and December (Waugh et al. 1997). Immature birds first return to their colonies at c. 5 years of age (Marchant and Higgins 1990) and their first breeding attempt occurs between 6-12 years of age (Childerhouse et al. 2003). The diet of the Southern Royal Albatross consists of primarily cephalopods, fish and tunicates (mostly of the family Salpidae) which is known from regurgitations of fledglings and adults on Campbell Island from 1974-177 and 1990-1997 (Imber 1999). This species obtains its prey from scavenging on dying or moribund prey from fishing vessels and to a lesser extent by active predation (Imber 1999).
There are currently few land-based threats to Southern Royal Albatrosses that would result in population-level changes and all breeding sites are legally protected (ACAP 2009d). Reductions in populations were experienced until the 1930s due to human predation, farming and introduced mammals, causing the populations on Enderby and Auckland islands to become extinct by the 1800s (Heather and Robertson 2000). A scrub known as Dracophyllum is spreading, possibly due to climate warming, and may reduce the amount of suitable breeding habitat available to the birds on Campbell and Enderby Islands (Wilmshurst et al. 2004). A decrease in population size from between 1970-1980s coincided with the peak in longline fishing in the New Zealand area (Moore and Bettany 2005). Southern Royal Albatrosses are occasionally accidentally caught by longline and trawl fishery operations around New Zealand, Australia, Argentina, Uruguay and Chile (Gales et al. 1998, Favero et al. 2003, Waugh and Weimerskirch 2003, Sullivan et al. 2006, Thompson 2010) as well as by Japanese tuna longliners on the high seas (Kiyota and Minami 2001). Petersen et al. (2009a) reported this species being caught in demersal longline fishery operations off southern Africa. Brown Rats Rattus norvegicus were reported to kill chicks on Campbell Island (Taylor 2000c) but were eradicated in 2003. Approximately 99% of the Southern Royal Albatross population breeds on Campbell Island (ACAP 2009d) which poses a serious potential threat, as nearly the entire global population may be affected should a disaster occur on this island.
The species is listed on ACAP Annex 1 and the Conservation on Migratory Species Appendix II. Cattle and sheep have been removed from Campbell Island, and cattle, rabbits and mice have been eradicated from Enderby Island. Rats have been eradicated from Campbell Island in 2001 and an expedition in 2003 found no evidence of them persisting (Towns and Broome 2003). Within the region, the species is protected under the Sea Birds and Seals Protection Act, 1973 (Act No. 46 of 1973), Marine Living Resources Act (Act No. 18 of 1998): Publication of Policy on the Management of Seals, Seabirds and Shorebirds: 2007 and the National Plan of Action (NPOA) for Reducing the Incidental Catch of Seabirds in Longline Fisheries 2008. Albatross Task Force teams are working in eight countries (Peru, Uruguay, Brazil, Argentina, Ecuador, Chile and South Africa and Namibia) to reduce fisheries bycatch in local trawl and longline fisheries.
The establishment of observer programmes to monitor bycatch and effectiveness of bycatch mitigation measures is essential. The extension of mandatory seabird bycatch mitigation measures to distant water fleets/high seas fisheries is required. A 10-year interval census of the Campbell and Enderby island colonies is required, and vegetation change on these islands should be monitored and its effect on breeding birds should be assessed. Pigs and cats should be eradicated from Auckland Island (Taylor 2000c). Finally, it should be ensured that all countries necessary have a plan of action for seabirds which is enforced and updated regularly.
* Survival rates of juveniles are unknown and recent data on adult survival are lacking.
* The diet, and movements and distribution of non-breeding birds requires further research.
* Greater understanding of the overlap of fishing operations and the extent of incidental capture of Southern Royal Albatross on the high seas and in waters around southern Africa is also urgently needed.