Graphical abstract from the publication

Joana Fragão (Centre for Functional Ecology, University of Coimbra, Portugal) and colleagues have published open access in the Journal of Hazardous Materials on microplastics and endocrine-disrupting chemicals in seven species of sub-Antarctic seabirds that breed on Bird Island in the South Atlantic, including the ACAP-listed Wandering Diomedea exulans, Black-browed Thalassarche melanophris and Grey-headed Albatross T. chrysostoma Albatrosses and the White-chinned Petrel Procellaria aequinoctialis.

The paper’s abstract follows:

“Despite the remoteness of their breeding sites, subantarctic seabirds are susceptible to anthropogenic pollutants (e.g. microplastics) and other chemical stressors (e.g. plastic additives) that are released from ships and research stations, arrive in ocean currents, are transported in the atmosphere, or are ingested when the birds feed north of the Antarctic Polar Front.  In this study, we investigated the presence and levels of microplastics and several groups of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in adults or chicks of seven seabird species breeding at the subantarctic islands of South Georgia.  A total of 1275 anthropogenic particles were recovered in the gastrointestinal tracts of 76 seabirds, with a frequency of occurrence of 97.4%, a mean value of 16.78 ± 18.79 particles per individual and of 0.03 ± 0.03 particles/g body weight.  Ten percent (n = 130 particles) of the particles were identified chemically using microFTIR spectroscopy, of which 59% were synthetic, 18% were natural, 19% were anthropogenic unknown and 4% were anthropogenic cellulosic.  Of the EDCs, only polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and methoxylated polybrominated diphenyl ethers (MeO-PBDEs) congeners occurred at levels above the limit of quantification.  Liver samples consistently exhibited the highest concentrations of both contaminant groups.  The highest concentrations of PBDEs were in adult brown skuas (133.96 ng/g) and of MeO-PBDEs were in wandering albatross chicks (6.50 ng/g).  This research provides evidence of plastics and plastic additives in subantarctic seabirds, underscoring the need to strengthen measures aimed at reducing marine pollution.”

Reference:

Fragão, J., Manno, C., Phillips, R.A., Cunha, S.C., Fernandes, J.O., Batista de Carvalho, L.A.E., Marques, M.P.M., Xavier, J.C. & Bessa, F. 2026.  Co-occurrence of microplastics and endocrine-disrupting chemicals in subantarctic seabirds.  Journal of Hazardous Materials 509 doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2026.14201.

John Cooper, Emeritus Information Officer, Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels, 17 April 2026

“One of these chicks is not like the other”, photograph from Pacific Rim Conservation

Since 2015 the environmental NGO, Pacific Rim Conservation, has been working to create a new seabird colony safe from predicted sea level rise on the Hawaiian island of Oahu.  By translocating chicks and hand-rearing them, four species have commenced to breed within the James Campbell National Wildlife Refuge.  They are the Black-footed Phoebastria nigripes and Laysan P. immutabilis Albatrosses, the Bonin Petrel Pterodroma hypoleuca and Tristram’s Storm Petrel Hydrobates tristrami (click here).

This year, ACAP’s chosen theme for World Albatross Day on 19 June 2026 is “Habitat Restoration”, which includes the establishment of new breeding colonies by attraction techniques and translocations of eggs and chicks.  At a number of translocation sites, adult decoys have been placed to attract passing adult albatrosses to land (click here), including in the James Campbell NWR.  However, new to ACAP Latest News is the use of chick decoys for the same purpose, as Pacific Rim Conservation explains on its Facebook page:

“Our mōlī (Laysan Albatross) chicks are growing up fast and exploring their surroundings. This fuzzy little one found its way over to our chick decoys.  You may already know about our usual social attraction tools (like solar-powered sound systems and adult seabird decoys), but a few years ago we added chick decoys into the mix to help make the colony even more inviting.  Along with tracking nest activity and courtship behavior, our team keeps an eye on how albatross chicks and adults interact with our decoys.

The decoy on the right [of the above photograph] was handcrafted by our Executive Director, Dr. Eric VanderWerf, using a plastic bowling pin and some shaggy carpet.  “We love a good conservation craft, and it looks like this chick does too”.”

Read past articles in ACAP Latest News about translocation efforts in the James Campbell National Wildlife Refuge here.

John Cooper, Emeritus Information Officer, Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels, 16 April 2026

Removing plastic fragments from a Flesh-footed Shearwater chick on Lord Howe Island, photograph by Ian Hutton

Alexander Bond (Bird Group, The Natural History Museum, Tring, United Kingdom) and Jennifer Lavers have published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology on the global significance of plastic pollution impacts on Near Threatened Flesh-footed or Sable Shearwaters Ardenna carneipes.

The paper’s abstract follows:

“Plastic pollution is a pervasive global threat, yet population-level impacts on wildlife remain poorly resolved for most taxa.  Sable Shearwaters (Ardenna carneipes) offer a rare opportunity, exhibiting some of the highest documented plastic burdens of any seabird and demonstrating clear physiological and demographic harm even at low exposure levels.  Their case reveals that the widespread assumption of minimal plastic impact is largely founded on a lack of evidence rather than evidence of no effect, driven by the difficulty of detecting mortality and sublethal effects in complex marine systems.  Their shared life history and anatomical traits make their responses to plastics broadly indicative of what many species may experience as global plastic inputs continue to rise.  As international policy efforts stall, these findings highlight the urgency of anticipatory, rather than reactive, research and governance.  Extreme-exposure systems like Sable Shearwaters provide essential early warning signals that must inform rapid conservation and regulatory action.”

Reference:

Bond, A.L. & Lavers, J.J. 2026.  When absence of evidence is not evidence of absence: what an advanced case reveals about plastic impacts on seabirds.  Environmental Science & Technology doi.org/10.1021/acs.ujest.5c17272.

 The latest ACAP Species Infographic released today, the 22nd to be produced in the 31-species series, is for the Vulnerable Chatham Albatross Thalassarche eremita.  The species breeds only on The Pyramid, a spectacular rocky stack off New Zealand’s Chatham Islands.  The new infographic has been sponsored by the New Zealand Department of Conservation with support from the Chatham Islands Landscape Restoration Trust.

It is the 18th albatross infographic to be produced, leaving just four albatrosses to go.  It is also being produced in the official ACAP languages of French and Spanish.  These two versions are expected to be released soon.

"Guardians of the Pyramid: The Chatham Albatross” by Anju Rajesh of Artists & Biologists Unite for Nature (ABUN) for World Albatross Day, 19 June 2026 and its theme of “Habitat Restoration”

The ACAP Species Infographic series has been designed to help inform the public, including school learners, of the threats faced by albatrosses and petrels and what is being and can be done to combat them.  They serve to complement the more detailed and referenced ACAP Species Assessments, the concise and illustrated ACAP Species Summaries and the ACAP Photo Essay series.  English and (for some) Portuguese language versions of the infographics produced to date are available to download here.  French and Spanish versions can be found in their respective language menus for the website under Infographies sur les espèces and Infographía sobres las especies.

The 22 infographics produced to date may be freely downloaded at a high resolution to allow for printing professionally in two poster sizes (approximately A2 and A3).  Please note they are only being made available for personal use or when engaging in activities that will aid in drawing attention to the conservation crisis faced by the world’s albatrosses and petrels – when ACAP will be pleased to receive a mention.  They should not be used for personal gain.

It is intended to produce one more ACAP Species Infographics in the first half of this year in support of World Albatross Day on 19 June (“WAD2026”).  It will be for the Endangered Atlantic Yellow-nosed Albatross Thalassarche chlororhynchos, endemic to the Tristan da Cunha islands, part of the United Kingdom Overseas Territory of St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha in the South Atlantic.

The ACAP Species Infographics are all created by Thai illustrator Namasri ‘Namo’ Niumim from Bangkok.  Namo is a graduate of the School of Architecture and Design, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Communication Design.

With thanks to Mike Bell, David Boyle, Johannes Fischer, Jess MacKenzie and Chris Robertson for their valued help.

John Cooper, Emeritus Information Officer, Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels, 14 April 2026