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Southern Giant Petrels Macronectes giganteus are the only ACAP-listed species that breed on the Antarctic Continent, where their colonies fall within the protection of the Antarctic Treaty System.

Last year's Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM XXXIII) held in Uruguay approved revised management plans for one Antarctic Specially Protected Area (ASPA) and one Antarctic Specially Managed Area (ASMA) where Southern Giant Petrels breed.

These are:

ASPA No. 102.  Rookery Islands, Holme Bay, Mac.Robertson Land. 

ASMA No. 7.  Southwest Anvers Island and Palmer Basin. 

For a complete list of the 15 ASPAs and two ASMAs that support breeding Southern Giant Petrels click here.

Click here for Antarctic localities visited by tourists which have site guideline documents to help protect them.  Five of these sites support breeding Southern Giant Petrels.  They are:

Barrientos Island (Aitcho Islands), South Shetland Islands

Brown Bluff, Antarctic Peninsula (suspected breeding only)

Hannah Point, Livingston Island, South Shetland Islands

Penguin Island, eastern King George Island, South Shetland Islands

Turret Point, eastern King George Island, South Shetland Islands.

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 5 January 2010