Rapa Island and surrounding islets, from the publication

Tehani Withers (SOP MANU, Taravao, Tahiti, French Polynesia) and colleagues have published open access in the journal Notornis on 11 species of seabirds that breed on Rapa Island in French Polynesia, including seven procellariiforms; among them Christmas Puffinus nativitatis and rare, endemic and Critically Endemic Rapa P. myrtae Shearwaters.

The paper’s abstract follows:

“Rapa Island, located in Eastern Polynesia, hosts 12 species of breeding seabirds, now primarily found on its ten peripheral islets.  These seabirds face various threats, such as invasive mammals that prey on eggs and chicks, as well as invasive plants that encroach upon and degrade their breeding habitats. Major island restoration projects are currently underway on several islets, focusing on the removal of invasive mammals and plants. We present data collected here between 2017 and 2024 and, together with published and unpublished surveys since 1921, compile details on the distribution, population, and breeding seasons of these seabird species.”

Reference:

Withers, T., Bretagnolle, V., Butaud, J.-F., Cibois, A., Cranwell, S., Jacq, F., Laitame, T.. Luta, R., Shirihai, H. & Thibault, J.-C. 2025.  Breeding seabird assemblage of Rapa, Austral Islands, Eastern Polynesia. Notornis 72: 23-32.

John Cooper, Emeritus ACAP Information Officer, 06 August 2025

An Indian Yellow-nosed Albatross broods its chick on the Falaises d'Entrecasteaux, Amsterdam Island by Holly Parsons of Artists & Biologists Unite for Nature (ABUN) for World Albatross Day, 19 June 2025, after a photograph by Karine Delord

Yves Cherel (Centre d’Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, Villiers-en-Bois, France) and colleagues have published in the journal Marine Biology on the diet of the Indian Yellow-nosed Albatross Thalassarche carteri on Amsterdam Island.

The paper’s abstract follows:

“Little is known about the diet of the Indian yellow-nosed albatross Thalassarche carteri, which is one of the few albatrosses that breed both north and south of the Subtropical Front. In this study we aimed to detail its feeding ecology at the subtropical Amsterdam Island that hosts the most important breeding population of the species. Analysis of stomach contents indicated that chicks were fed on fish (84% by fresh mass) and cephalopods (11%), whilst crustaceans and other organisms were minor dietary components. A total of 969 fresh prey items were [sic] identified from the pooled 134 samples. The fish diet of yellow-nosed albatross is diverse (at least 36 taxa) and is dominated by Cubiceps caeruleus (40.2% by number of fish prey), Scomberesox scombroides (31.2%), and Phosichthys argenteus (8.3%). Identification of 2086 accumulated beaks demonstrates a diverse cephalopod diet (34 taxa), which includes mainly oegopsids (30 taxa). The most important squid prey were ommastrephids (44.5% by number of accumulated lower beaks), followed by Histioteuthis atlantica (15.9%) and Ancistrocheirus lesueurii (8.7%). Feather δ¹³C values indicate that chicks of six breeding seabirds from Amsterdam/Saint-Paul Islands assimilated food of subtropical origin. Using δ¹⁵N as a proxy of trophic position, the seabird assemblage is structured along three trophic levels from the rockhopper penguin Eudyptes moseleyi (δ¹⁵N = 9.6‰) to the Amsterdam albatross Diomedea amsterdamensis (15.9‰), with the yellow-nosed albatross (14.6‰) being a top predator sharing the same trophic position as the sooty albatross Phoebetria fusca (14.5‰). Anthropogenic-related items were found in 30% of food samples, and their occurrence increased from 1993 (22%) to 2001 (76%). The study sets a baseline for future works on diet, isotopic ecology and plastic contamination of the Indian yellow-nosed albatross across years and various conditions.”

Reference:

Cherel, Y., Trouvé, C., Richard, P. & Weimerskirch, H. 2025. Feeding ecology of the Indian yellow-nosed albatross Thalassarche carteri at the subtropical Amsterdam Island.  Marine Biology 172, 56. doi.org/10.1007/s00227-025-04608-5.

John Cooper, Emeritus ACAP Information Officer, 05 August 2025

Graphical Abstract from the publication

Hsiang-Wen Huang (Institute of Marine Affairs and Resource Management, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung) and colleagues have published open access in the journal Global Ecology and Conservation on testing best-practice methods for mitigating seabird bycatch.  They report that on average nearly three seabirds were taken on each of 103 sets in the south-east Atlantic.  Species caught included Black-browed Albatross Thalassarche melanophris, White-chinned Petrel Procellaria aequinoctialis and Great Shearwater Ardenna gravis.  Night setting emerged as the most effective mitigation measure, although Whie-chinned Petrels were still caught at night.

The paper’s abstract follows:

“Seabird bycatch—particularly involving albatrosses and petrels—remains a significant conservation concern in pelagic longline fisheries.  This study evaluated the effectiveness of three mitigation measures—bird-scaring lines (BSLs), weighted branch lines, and night setting—in reducing seabird bycatch in the Taiwanese albacore (Thunnus alalunga) longline fishery operating in the southeastern Atlantic Ocean.   Observations were conducted aboard a commercial vessel during 103 longline sets in 2013. Four BSL treatments were tested: single and double conventional BSLs and single and double experimental BSLs recommended by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT), each combined with either weighted (60 g at 3 m from the hook) or unweighted branch lines.  A total of 298 seabirds were [sic] caught during line setting, with an additional 18 birds caught and released alive during hauling and trolling.  Night setting emerged as the most effective mitigation measure, with a bycatch rate of 0.046 birds per 1000 hooks—substantially lower than the 1.101 birds per 1000 hooks recorded during daytime setting. While BSLs effectively deterred seabird attacks within their aerial extent, their efficacy declined when baited hooks remained within the diving range of seabirds beyond this zone.  Weighted branch lines reduced seabird bycatch by 61 %; however, they were also associated with a potential decrease in albacore catch rates.  Our findings highlight that the effectiveness of best practice mitigation—namely, the combined use of BSLs and weighted branch lines—depends on ensuring that baited hooks reach depths beyond seabird diving capabilities before exiting the aerial extent of the BSLs.  Further optimization is needed to balance conservation outcomes with fishery performance.

Reference:

Huang, H.-W., Liao, H.-C., Kuo, T.-C., Chen, S.-C. & Yeh, Y.-M. 2025.  Best practices for mitigating seabird bycatch on Taiwanese albacore longline fishing vessels operating in the southeastern Atlantic Ocean.  Global Ecology and Conservation 62, e03752.

John Cooper, Emeritus Information Officer, Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels, 04 August 2025

 One of the 10 ten: A Laysan Albatross family

“The first annual Friends of Midway Art Contest judges have already selected the 1st and 2nd place winners, who have been notified.  Now we need YOUR help on voting for the Peoples' Choice Award winner!

The Art Contest Committee has gone through the difficult process of selecting the top 10 pieces of art out of an incredible 31 submissions.  We appreciate each and every artist who participated and will be showcasing all artwork publicly (and announcing winners) August 15th.

Voting is now open August 1st - 8th, one vote per person - anyone can vote.   The voting poll can be found here.

Feel free to share this voting poll with friends and family.  The more voters, the better!”

George and Geraldine: Midway's breeding Short-tailed Albatrosses, artwork by Holly Parsons

John Cooper, Emeritus Information Officer, Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels, 01 August 2025