---
title: "Australia considers listing the Flesh-footed Shearwater under its Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act"
---

# Australia considers listing the Flesh-footed Shearwater under its Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act

![Flesh-footed Sheawater 2 flying Tim Reid s](http://www.acap.aq/images/stories/acap/Birds/Shearwaters/Flesh_footed/Flesh-footed%20Sheawater%202%20flying%20Tim%20Reid%20s.jpg)

 Flesh-footed Shearwater at sea

 Photograph by Tim Reid

 The Flesh-footed Shearwater *Puffinus carneipes* has been identified as a potential candidate for inclusion within ACAP. It is listed as of [Least Concern](http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/speciesfactsheet.php?id=3930) globally, but has been considered at risk in Australia due to threats it faces from plastic ingestion, at-sea fisheries mortality, on-land predators and a decreasing national population ([click here](http://www.acap.aq/index.php/en/news/news-archive/57-2012-news-archive/184-growing-concerns-for-the-flesh-footed-shearwater-should-it-be-accorded-a-threatened-status)).

 Following its nomination last year in March, Australia’s Threatened Species Scientific Committee ([TSSC](http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/committee-members.html)) is now considering the Flesh-footed Shearwater for inclusion within its Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation ([EPBC](http://www.environment.gov.au/epbc/index.html)) Act of 1999. The assessment process commenced on 1 October 2012 and is required to be completed by 30 September 2014 ([click here](http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/pubs/priority-assessment-list-2012.pdf)). The process includes “a rigorous scientific assessment of the species or ecological community's threat status”.

 Listing under the EPBC Act should lead to the Flesh-footed Shearwater being afforded better protection within Australia and its waters ([click here](http://www.environment.gov.au/epbc/publications/epbc-act-fact-sheet.html)).

 ![](http://www.acap.aq/images/stories/acap/Birds/Shearwaters/Flesh_footed/flesh-footed_shearwater_dissection_i._hutton.jpg)

 A Flesh-footed Shearwater is dissected of its stomach load of plastic items

 Photograph by Ian Hutton

 With thanks to Jennifer Lavers for information.

 **Selected References:**

 Baker, G.B. & Wise, B.S. 2005. The impact of pelagic longline fishing on the Flesh-footed Shearwater Puffinus carneipes in eastern Australia. [*Biological Conservation*126: 306-316](http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6V5X-4GX64YP-1&_user=10&_coverDate=12%2F31%2F2005&_rdoc=3&_fmt=high&_orig=browse&_origin=browse&_zone=rslt_list_item&_srch=doc-info(%23toc%235798%232005%23998739996%23606329%23FLA%23display%23Volume)&_cdi=5798&_sort=d&_docanchor=&_ct=19&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=043b3b37c57baebc88663966ccccbf87&searchtype=a).

 Cooper, J. & Baker, G.B. 2008. Identifying candidate species for inclusion within the Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels. [*Marine Ornithology* 36: 1-8](http://www.marineornithology.org/PDF/36_1/36_1_1-8.pdf).

 Hutton, I., Carlile, N. & Priddel, D. 2008. Plastic ingestion by Flesh-footed (*Puffinus carneipes*) and Wedge-tailed (*Puffinus pacificus*) shearwaters. [*Papers and Proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania*142: 67-72](http://eprints.utas.edu.au/13162/1/2008_Hutton_plastic_ingestion.pdf).

 Priddel, D., Carlile, N., Fullagar, P., Hutton, I. & O'Neill, L. 2006. Decline in the distribution and abundance of flesh-footed shearwaters (*Puffinus carneipes*) on Lord Howe Island, Australia. [*Biological Conservation* 128: 412-424](http://lhimuseum.com/scientific_interest/4_decline_in_shearwater_numbers.pdf).

 Thalman, S.J., Baker, G.B., Hindell, M. & Tuck, G,N, 2009. Longline fisheries and foraging distribution of Flesh-Footed Shearwaters in eastern Australia. [*The Journal of Wildlife Management*](http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.2193/2007-461/abstract) 73: 399-406.

 *John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 8 April 2013*