Igor Debski (Department of Conservation, Wellington, New Zealand) and colleagues submitted a document on the distribution of threatened New Zealand seabirds in the Pacific to the 12th Regular Session of the Scientific Committee of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) in Bali, Indonesia this August.

The document’s abstract follows:

We present a summary of the most relevant and up to date distributional information for New Zealand breeding seabird species identified as at highest risk from fisheries bycatch.  The foraging range of these species is overlaid with the spatial application of CMM 2012-07 to mitigate the impact of fishing for highly migratory fish stocks on seabirds.  Building on information previously considered by the Science Committee, we assess how fishing impacts can best be mitigated for these most at-risk seabirds, with a particular focus on the spatial application of mitigation in the southern Pacific.”

More information on submissions to recent WCPFC meetings here.

A Shy Albatross trails a fishing line, photograph by Robert Hynson

Reference:

Debski, I., Freydís Hjörvarsdóttir, F. & Knowles, K. 2016.  Distribution of highly at-risk New Zealand seabirds in the Western Central Pacific Fisheries Commission area. WCPFC-SC12-2016/ EB-WP-09 Rev 1.  7 pp.

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 30 September 2016

Yukiko Inoue (National Research Institute of Far Seas Fisheries, Shizuoka, Japan) and colleagues submitted a paper on seabird bycatch to the 12th Meeting of the Working Party on Ecosystems and Bycatch (WPEB12) of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) held in Victoria, Mahé, Seychelles earlier this month.

The document’s abstract follows:

“We analyzed the factor affecting bycatch occurrence rate.  Random forest was applied to analyze.  We constructed four models examining effect of species group, season, year, environmental factors, distance from the colonies, a lunar phase, and catch of fish.  Our model was likely to be a statistically appropriate model because out of bags is an acceptable range though a little high.  Dominant variables in common with analyzed four models were latitude, longitude, elapsed days from the first day of the year, number of observed hooks, species group, sea surface temperature in this study.  Also year, cruise ID and lunar phase were dominant variables in common with two to three models.  Those variables would have the large impact on bycatch occurrence rate.  Thus, it was suggested that those variables should be considered in the comparison between CPCs and in the collaboration work.”

Reference:

Indian Yellow-nosed Albatross near Amsterdam Island, photograph by Kirk Zufelt

Inoue, Y., Kanaiwa, M., Yokawa, K. & Oshima, K. 2016.  Examination of factors affecting seabird bycatch occurrence rate in southern hemisphere in Japanese longline fishery with using random forest.  IOTC–2016–WPEB12–INF07.  Unpaginated.

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 29 September 2016

Laurie Thiers and colleagues (Centre d’Études Biologiques de Chizé, Villiers en Bois, France) have published in the journal Polar Biology on utilizing at-sea distributions of marine top predators to choose a Marine Protected Area around the Kerguelen Islands.

The paper’s abstract follows:

“The French Kerguelen Archipelago represents an important breeding place for many species of marine top predators within the Southern Ocean, making the plateau hosting the archipelago and surrounding waters (CCAMLR area 58.5) a crucial area to design conservation measures.  In this study, available tracking data from nine species of seabirds and marine mammals breeding at Kerguelen were analysed to define potential boundaries for a Marine Protected Area.  Maps of time spent per square of each species were first used to describe high-use areas within the Kerguelen Plateau.  Habitat models were then developed for four species (Black-browed albatross, Wandering albatross, King penguin and Antarctic fur seal) chosen on the basis of their contrasted foraging ecology and diet to represent the top predator community.  Predictive models were then applied to the main colonies of the four species for which no tracking data were available to illustrate the most important feeding areas at the scale of the entire study zone.  An area delineated by the central part of the plateau and its slopes appeared to be of great importance for the top predators’ community and would appropriately complete the limits of the existing Australian marine reserve of Heard and McDonald Islands.”

Wandering Albatross at sea, photograph by John Chardine 

Reference:

Thiers, L. Delord, K., Bost, C.-A., Guinet, C. & Weimerskirch, H. 2016.  Important marine sectors for the top predator community around Kerguelen Archipelago.  Polar Biology DOI: 10.1007/s00300-016-1964-4.

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 28 September 2016

BirdLife South Africa has published a study in its new Occasional Report Series that considers the feasibility of eradicating introduced House Mice Mus musculus on South Africa’s sub-Antarctic Marion Island.  Marion’s mice are now known to be attacking ACAP-listed albatrosses and are thus regarded as a serious threat requiring eradication (click here).  The publication follows a site visit last year by New Zealand invasive species expert John Parkes (click here).

Grey-headed Albatross chicks attacked by mice at Marion Island, photograph by Ben Dilley

The study concludes that “eradication of mice from Marion Island is definitely possible with a high chance of success.”  The study makes a number of operational and research & information recommendations that should be addressed prior to an eradication attempt by aerial baiting.

Following the Parkes report BirdLife South Africa has stated “we do … need to do some further research, to answer key questions relating to the logistics of the mission.  How do we avoid or minimize non-target impacts on some of the birds which will be at risk? How much bait will be needed? When is the best time to start the baiting? These questions are being developed into a research plan that we hope to put into action in 2017” (click here).

With thanks to Ross Wanless.

Reference:

Parkes, J. 2014.  Eradication of House Mice Mus musculus from Marion Island: a Review of Feasibility, Constraints and Risks.  In: Wanless, R.M. (Ed.).  BirdLife South Africa Occasional Report Series No. 1.  Johannesburg: BirdLife South Africa.  27 pp

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 27 September 2016