Rationale
(Changed due to Genuine (recent))
The global population of Black-browed Albatross Thalassarche melanophrys has declined, and is predicted to continue declining, by greater than 60% over a 64 year period (three generations) at its large breeding colonies in the south-west Atlantic, satisfying criterion A4 (an observed, estimated, inferred, projected or suspected population size reduction of greater or equal to 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 species does not breed on the Prince Edward Islands but is a regular visitor to South African territorial waters. The global status is adopted as the regional status.
Distribution
The Black-browed Albatross has a circumpolar distribution, with the majority of breeding birds found in the Subantarctic zone, and the majority of non-breeding birds occurring in subtropical as well as Subantarctic waters (ACAP 2010). Populations breed on the Falklands Islands, Isla Diego Ramirez, Ildefondo, Diego de Almagro and Isla Evangelistas, South Georgia, Crozet and Kerguelen Islands, Heard and McDonald Islands and Macquarie Island, and Campbell and Antipodes Islands (Croxall and Gales 1998). They occur throughout South African waters, reaching southern Angola and southern Mozambique with their distribution strongly linked to trawling activity (Ryan and Moloney 1988). They can also be found regularly but in low numbers in oceanic waters, concentrating at fronts (Petersen et al. 2008). Most of the Black-browed Albatrosses that forage in the highly productive Benguela Current off the South African coast, originate from South Georgia (Phillips et al. 2004). Very little is known about the distribution of immature Black-browed Albatrosses (ACAP 2010).
Population
The global population is estimated at c. 593 447 breeding pairs (c. 1.15 million mature individuals) comprising of 399 416 pairs (c. 67%) on the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) (Huin and Reid 2007, Strange 2008), 74 296 pairs (c. 13%) on South Georgia (Poncet et al. 2006), 114 608 pairs (c. 20%) in Chile and other populations (Antipodes, Campbell, Heard and MacDonald, Crozet, Kerguelen, Macquarie and Snares; Gales 1998). Crawford et al. (1991) estimated the population in South African waters to be 170 000 birds in the austral winter and 45 000 birds, mostly immatures, in the austral summer. Confidence in this population estimate is medium.
Population trend
The global population is decreasing (ACAP 2010). Populations at Bird Island (11% of the South Georgia total) declined by 4% per year between 1989-1990 and 2003-2004 (Poncet et al. 2006), while the Kerguelen population declined by 17% between 1978-1979 and 1994-1995 (Weimerskirch and Jouventin 1998). Adult survival on South Georgia decreased from 93% pre-1970 to 89% in 1987, with breeding success also decreasing over the same period from 36% to 18% (Croxall 2008). Numbers at Diego Ramirez may have decreased during the 1980s and recovered recently (Schlatter 1984, Arata and Moreno 2002). Numbers in the Falklands apparently increased substantially during the 1980s (Croxall and Gales 1998, Gales 1998), probably attributable to abundant offal and discards from trawl fisheries (Thompson and Riddy 1995). Previously, the Falklands population was declining at 0.7% per year between 2000 and 2005 (Huin and Reid 2007) though more recently between 2005 and 2010 the breeding numbers have increased by 21.8%, or 4% per year (Catry et al. 2011, Wolfaardt 2012). The trends are not consistent between years or sites, and between colonies within sites. Trends are still uncertain for the populations in Chile but repeat censuses of the population at the Ildefonso Archipelago, Chile, in 2002 and 2006, suggest that the population remained stable during this period (Robertson et al. 2008). The small population on Heard Island (c. 600 pairs) appears to have increased over the past 50 years (Woehler et al. 2002). The combination of trends across colonies and the past declines in the Falklands, South Georgia and Kerguelen, indicate an overall decline of 67% over 64 years (three generations). Very rapid ongoing declines are suspected overall (Wolfaardt 2012). Confidence in this estimate is high.
Threats
The main threat facing the Black-browed Albatross is through interaction with commercial fisheries, most notably longline fishing, over much of the Patagonian shelf, off South Georgia, off the southern African coast and in the Southern Ocean (Reid and Sullivan 2004, Arnold et al. 2006). The Black-browed Albatross faces land-based threats that would cause population-level changes at any of the breeding sites (ACAP 2010). Introduced predators have impacted on the numbers of individuals on Macquarie Island since 1999 while the European Rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus has led to extensive destruction of habitat and soil erosion at nesting sites (Parks and Wildlife Service and Biodiversity Conservation Branch 2007). An eradication programme targeting rodents commenced in 2010 (ACAP 2010). Domestic cats Felis catus may have an impact on the colonies on the Kerguelen Islands (Woehler et al. 2002, ACAP 2010). In more recent years, the effect of trawl fisheries on this species has been found to be another major cause of their decline (Sullivan et al. 2006). In the past, Black-browed Albatrosses were killed by fishermen for food off the South African coast (Ryan and Rose 1989), but this is unlikely to be a major threat currently (BA Maree pers. obs.). Juvenile Black-browed Albatrosses face a minor threat when severe storms and winds exhaust and drive them ashore, causing their death (Ryan et al. 1987). Eggs were once collected for food but this has since been made illegal and is not a major threat. Ingestion of plastic, as well as nylon, rubber and metal wire, remains another threat to Black-browed Albatrosses (Ryan 2008).
Conservation
Underway
Within the region, the South African government has a National Plan of Action for Seabirds (NPOA-S) which although not species-specific, sets guidelines and targets for local fisheries relating to seabird bycatch levels and targets. Fisheries within South Africa, both longline and trawl, have shown strong interest in reducing accidental seabird bycatch. Currently the Black-browed Albatross populations are monitored at South Georgia, Kerguelen, Campbell, Diego Ramirez and the Falklands Islands (ACAP 2010). Most breeding sites are designated reserves, with Heard and McDonald, Macquarie, and the New Zealand islands being World Heritage sites. Black-browed Albatrosses are protected under the following international listings: Agreement of the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels (ACAP) - Annex 1; 2012 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species - Endangered (since 2003); and the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (Appendix II) (as Diomedea melanophris). In addition, Black-browed Albatross are listed on various country-specific plans (ACAP 2010a). Regionally the species is protected under the Sea Birds and Seals Protection Act, 1973 (Act No. 46 of 1973), The Marine Living Resources Act (Act No. 18 of 1998): 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.
Proposed
All Black-browed Albatross populations should be monitored/continued to be monitored, with full census counts done at all sites at regular intervals (Falklands Islands, South Georgia, Chile and the French Southern Territories), as much of the data is several years outdated (ACAP 2010). All current research programmes underway at each site should be continued. The impact of both longline and trawl fisheries should be assessed and continued monitoring put in place. Seabird bycatch mitigation measures should be strengthened and made mandatory in all relevant Regional Fisheries Management Organisations including the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas and Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR). Fisheries observer programmes should be improved with stronger data reporting requirements, as well as increased access to the data collected. Updating of the National Plan of Action for Seabirds (NPOA-S) for South Africa is required.
Research
* Population trend and demographic parameters need to be established for all breeding sites.
* Information should be obtained on the distribution of immature and non-breeding birds, especially for the Chilean colonies.
* Assessments into bycatch levels in all fisheries (longline and trawl) that potentially catch albatrosses accidentally should be conducted.
* Implement mitigation measures and continued monitoring programmes into fisheries operating within the range of the species.
