Rationale (Changed due to Genuine (recent))

The Spectacled Petrel Procellaria conspicillata is listed as globally Vulnerable due to significant numbers being caught as bycatch in longline fisheries. Owing to its very small breeding range, it is highly susceptible to stochastic events and human activities. The species occurs in South African territorial waters and the global status is retained as the regional status.

Distribution

Confined as a breeding species to Inaccessible Island, one of the islands in the Tristan da Cunha archipelago, in the central South Atlantic Ocean (Camphuysen and van der Meer 2000). Disperses widely between 22-46°S in the South Atlantic, mainly 25-40°S (Enticott and O Connell 1985, Camphuysen and van der Meer 2000, Bugoni et al. 2009). A rare visitor to the south-west Indian Ocean (Ryan 2005), but some recent sightings from around Amsterdam Island (Shirihai and Kirwan 2008) may indicate a relict population in the Indian Ocean (Ryan 1998).

Habitat View more ecological information

Population

The global population of Spectacled Petrel was estimated to be 14 400 breeding pairs in 2009/10 (Ryan and Ronconi 2011). Given the ongoing population increase over the last decade of roughly 7% per year, this probably now exceeds 15 000 pairs, which equates to a total population of some 60 000 mature individuals. The proportion of the population entering South African waters is probably relatively small, given the relative scarcity of sightings off the South African coast (Ryan 2005), but there is limited observer coverage of the warmer, oceanic waters off the West Coast favoured by this species. In addition, it is easily overlooked among the abundant White-chinned Petrel. Two of eight adults tracked with satellite tags from Inaccessible Island visited South African waters during summer (Reid et al. 2014). The confidence in this estimate is high.

Population trend

The population on Inaccessible Island was estimated to be only a few tens of pairs in 1937 (Hagen 1952), a few hundred pairs in 1950 (Rowan et al. 1951) and about 1 000 pairs in 1982/1983 (Fraser et al. 1988). Standardised five-yearly surveys commenced in 1999, with the population increasing from some 5 900-7 000 pairs in 1999 to 8 500-10 100 pairs in 2004 and 12 800-14 400 in 2009 (Ryan and Moloney 2000, Ryan et al. 2006, Ryan and Ronconi 2011). The confidence in these trend estimates is high.

Threats

The main threat is accidental mortality on fishing gear, especially longlines. Rarely caught on longlines off South Africa (only one confirmed record, caught on a tuna longliner), but regularly caught off the east coast of South America (Bugoni et al. 2008). Apparently driven close to extinction by introduced pigs on Inaccessible Island, but recovered since pigs died out around the turn of the 20th century (Fraser et al. 1988, Ryan et al. 2006). Despite ongoing mortality on longlines, surveys in 1999, 2004 and 2009 showed increases of 7% per year (Ryan and Moloney 2000, Ryan et al. 2006, Ryan and Ronconi 2011). Consequently the species was downlisted from Critically Endangered to Vulnerable in 2007.

Conservation

Underway

Listed on the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (Appendix II) and ACAP Annexure 1. Inaccessible Island forms part of the Gough-Inaccessible Island Natural World Heritage Site. The island's wetlands, including the bogs formed by Spectacled Petrel colonies, are also listed as Ramsar sites. Access to the island is restricted to research visits and supervised day-visits by tourist groups to the coastal zone. Tristan Islanders retain the right to collect driftwood and guano (Ryan and Glass 2001). BirdLife's Albatross Task Force and other NGOs work with the commercial fishing industry to monitor and reduce bycatch rates, especially in fisheries off South America.

Proposed

Promote adoption of best-practice mitigation measures in South African fisheries and those operating in international waters through Regional Fishery Management Organisations such as the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna and the South East Atlantic Fishery Organisation. Conduct regular surveys of the breeding population, and ensure that strict measures are in place to prevent introduction of mammalian predators.

Research

* Data relating to demographic parameters including adult and juvenile survival, recruitment, breeding frequency, courtship period and mate fidelity are lacking.

* The proportion of the population visiting South African waters needs to be quantified.