Rationale
(Changed due to Increased knowledge)
The Northern Royal Albatross Diomedea sanfordi is listed as globally Endangered due to a projected decline of greater than 50% over the next 81 year period (three generations) satisfying criterion A4 (an observed, estimated, inferred, projected or suspected population size reduction of =50% over a three generation period, where the time period must include both the past and the future, and where the reduction or its causes may not have ceased OR may not be understood OR may not be reversible). The Northern Royal Albatross occurs as a non-breeding visitor in South African waters and the regional assessment follows the global status for this species.
Distribution
Northern Royal Albatrosses are a breeding endemic to New Zealand with the majority (greater than 99%) of the population breeding on the Chatham Islands. The remaining individuals breed at Taiaroa Head on the Otago Peninsula of New Zealand's South Island (Croxall and Gales 1998, Robertson 1998, Robertson and Nunn 1998). Breeding birds can be found foraging close to their breeding sites, over shallow waters of the Chatham Rise out to the shelf edge (1 500-2 000 m deep; Nicholls et al. 1994, Nicholls et al. 2002).
Birds that have either failed in a breeding attempt or are not breeding, including newly fledged juveniles, travel across the Pacific Ocean to the continental shelf off Chile and the Patagonian Shelf (Nicholls et al. 2002). They are more widespread along the Patagonian Shelf, approximately 200-350 km offshore in water depths of less than200 m deep (but can extend to the shelf-break to depths of 1 000 m) at 36-49° S (Nicholls et al. 2002). Birds are also found further south, near the Falklands Islands (Islas Malvinas) along the shelf west of the islands (Nicholls et al. 2002). Probably overlooked in the past but now observed regularly off Western Cape, occurring mostly over the continental shelf between the Orange River, Northern Cape to Cape Agulhas, Western Cape (Nicholls et al. 1994, Ryan 2005f).
Population
The global population is estimated at c. 25 000-26 000 mature individuals (BirdLife International 2014q), 99% of which occur on the Chatham Islands. A 2012 count recorded 5 800 pairs on this island group (counted at the end of egg-laying) with c. 1 700 pairs on sabbatical after breeding in the previous season (BirdLife International 2014q). Approximately 25 pairs breed at Taiaroa Head, including five hybrids which have descended from a cross with a female Southern Royal Albatross. Confidence in the global estimate is high.
Population trend
The global population is in decline (BirdLife International 2014q). Severe storms in the 1980s resulted in a decrease in habitat quality at the Chatham Islands, which led to poor breeding success. Based on this low breeding success, the population is estimated to have undergone and be undergoing a very rapid continuing decline over three generations. Taiaroa Head (representing 0.5% of the total population) has had ongoing monitoring since 1937 but despite the varying quality of the records, it is clear this population is increasing (Croxall and Gales 1998). The decline is projected to be greater than 50% over a 81 year (three generation) period. Confidence in this trend estimate is high.
Threats
Unlike in many other albatross species, fisheries-related mortality is not thought to be a major threat to the Northern Royal Albatross. While this species is occasionally killed in longline fisheries around New Zealand, Australia, Brazil and Uruguay, it is subject to low capture rates (Taylor and Unit 2000, Bugoni et al. 2008). However, of concern is that observer coverage as a proportion of total fishing effort is low, limiting confidence in the low observed mortality rates (Favero et al. 2003, Waugh et al. 2008). In the past local residents of the Chatham Islands exploited Northern Royal Albatross in significant numbers (Tickell 2000) but this has mostly ended.
Conservation
Underway
Albatross Task Force (ATF) teams in nine countries are recording seabird bycatch within local fisheries. These at-sea threats should be monitored and maintained through mitigation strategies (including intergovernmental agreements) at acceptable levels (Garnett et al. 2011). Predator control at Taiaroa Head during the breeding season results in comparatively high annual productivity (Croxall and Gales 1998). Feral cattle, rabbits and mice have been eradicated from Enderby Island (Taylor and Unit 2000). The species is listed in the Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels - Annex 1, and the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals - Appendix II.
Proposed
Intensive monitoring/census and management of populations in Taiaroa Head and Chatham Islands (annual surveys)is ongoing. Ensure best practise mitigation measures are implemented in all fisheries in which the Northern Royal Albatross interacts. Ensure all pelagic longline effort in South African waters is monitored through independent observer programmes and compliance with measures to prevent incidental mortality, and all mortality events, are recorded. Continue development, testing and implementation of new mitigation measures in the longline fishing industry. The National Plan of Action for Seabirds of South Africa should be updated.
Research
* Determine at-sea distribution of immatures and non-breeding adults.
* Obtain a better understanding of the fishing operations and extent of incidental capture of the species in South African waters.
* Conduct training by specialists on the species-level identification of albatrosses to parties involved in monitoring and conservation of seabirds.
