Hannahrose Nevins (American Bird Conservancy, Santa Cruz, California, USA) and colleagues have published online in the open-access journal Marine Ornithology on Laysan Phoebastria immutabilis and Black-footed P. nigripes Albatrosses caught by Alaskan and Hawaiian longline fisheries.

The paper’s abstract in English and Spanish follows:

"In fisheries, incidental bycatch of non-target species, including seabirds, is the result of complex interactions between species and fishing effort. While understanding the magnitude of bycatch is essential to understanding its impact on incidentally caught species, a full characterization requires describing the demographic composition of bycatch and formulating effective mitigation responses. We characterized the body condition, sex, and reproductive maturity of Laysan Albatross Phoebastria immutabilis and Black-footed Albatross P. nigripes collected by fishery observers in the US Alaskan groundfish and halibut fisheries (n = 129: 83 Laysan, 46 Black-footed; 2006-2014) and the US Hawaiian longline fisheries (n = 529: 206 Laysan, 323 Black-footed; 2010-2016). Across species and regions, there was a highly significant bias toward bycatch of sexually mature birds, and most birds were in good body condition. Whereas bycatch in the Alaska region was significantly male-biased for both species, bycatch in the Hawai‘i region was slightly male-biased for Laysan Albatross and moderately female-biased for Black-footed Albatross. Overall, assessment of bycatch demographics across species, regions, and seasons provides valuable information for managers and modelers who assess the impacts of bycatch on wildlife populations.”

“En la pesca, la captura incidental (o bycatch) de especies no objetivo, incluidas aves marinas, es el resultado de interacciones complejas entre las especies y el esfuerzo pesquero.  Si bien la comprensión de la magnitud de la captura incidental es esencial para comprender su impacto en las especies capturadas incidentalmente, una caracterización completa requiere describir la composición demográfica de la captura incidental y formular respuestas efectivas de mitigación. Caracterizamos la composición corporal, el sexo y la madurez reproductiva del Albatros de Laysan Phoebastria immutabilis y el Albatros de Patas negras P. nigripes recolectados por observadores científicos en dos pesquerías de EE.UU: las pesquerías de peces de fondo y Halibut de Alaska (n = 129: 83 Laysan, 46 Patas negras; 2006-2014) y las pesquerías de palangre en Hawái (n = 529: 206 Laysan, 323 Patas negras; 2010-2016). Para las dos especies y regiones estudiadas, se verifico un sesgo altamente significativo por la captura de aves sexualmente maduras, y en buenas condiciones corporales. A pesar que el bycatch en la región de Alaska evidenció un elevado sesgo hacia machos en ambas especies, las de Hawái fueron ligeramente sesgadas hacia machos en los Laysan y moderadamente sesgadas hacia hembras en los de Patas negras. En general, la evaluación de la demografía de la captura incidental a través de especies, regiones y estaciones proporciona información valiosa para los administradores de pesquerías y los modeladores que evalúan los impactos de la captura incidental en las poblaciones de vida silvestre.”

A Black-footed and a Laysan Albatross, photograph from the Kure Atoll Conservancy

Reference:

Nevins, H.M., Beck, J., Michael, P.E./ Hester, M., Peschon, J., Donnelly-Greenan, E. & Fitzgerald, S. 2018. Demographics of Laysan Phoebastria immutabilis and Black-footed P. nigripes Albatross caught as bycatch in Alaskan groundfish and Hawaiian longline fisheries. Marine Ornithology 46: 187-196.

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 02 November 2018

Robert Flood and Peter Ryan (FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa) have published online in the open-access journal Marine Ornithology on primary wing moult of Shy Thalassarche cauta and White-capped T. steadi Albatrosses.

The paper’s abstract follows:

“A provisional schedule is given for the age-related timing of primary moult in White-capped Albatross Thalassarche [c.] steadi based on an analysis of primary moult in 575 Shy Albatross T. [c.] cauta/steadi caught as bycatch on longlines off South Africa (mostly White-capped Albatross). Our analysis draws upon basic principles for age-related moult timing established in studies of other mollymawks. The principles involve combined assessment of an alternate-year primary moult schedule, maturation of plumage aspect, and maturation of bill colour and pattern. There is good evidence that adult/definitive prebasic moult of White-capped Albatross occurs mainly in August-October, which is between breeding seasons, and continues into the austral summer. After a successful breeding attempt, most White-capped Albatrosses skip the following breeding season and may be less constrained in the timing of moult relative to breeding. The third and fourth prebasic moults occur December-June, considerably earlier than the definitive prebasic moult; the fifth prebasic moult appears to occur April-September, closer in timing to the definitive prebasic moult. Observations from 10 Shy Albatross T. [c.] cauta provide some evidence that they moult slightly earlier than White-capped Albatross, which is consistent with their earlier breeding period.”

Shy Albatross off Amsterdam Island, photograph by Kirk Zufelt

Reference:

Flood, R.L. & Ryan, P.G. 2018. Age-related timing of primary moult in Shy Albatross Thalassarche [c.] cauta/steadi longline casualties from South Africa.  Marine Ornithology 46: 197-202.

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 01 November 2018

Aimee van Tatenhove (College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA) and colleagues have published online in the open-access journal Marine Ornithology on colony attendance in globally Near Threatened Streaked Shearwaters Calonectris leucomelas.

The paper’s abstract follows:

“Many species of Procellaridae [sic] are nocturnal on their breeding grounds, exhibiting reduced activity during fuller moonlight, perhaps to avoid predation by predators that use the full moon to hunt after sunset. Among these nocturnal species, Streaked Shearwaters Calonectris leucomelas have high wing loading and have difficulty taking off—especially with unfavorable wind conditions—thus potentially exacerbating moonlight avoidance. Effects of moonlight and wind conditions on the colony activity of this species, however, is poorly understood. We investigated the phenomenon by counting the departure and arrival of birds, and measuring ambient light intensity, local wind speed, and local wind direction at a breeding colony of Streaked Shearwaters on Awashima Island, Japan. Moon phase and ambient light had no significant effect on the frequency of arrivals or departures. Frequency of departures decreased significantly with increasing wind speed, but no effect was seen on arrivals, and wind direction had no effect on arrivals or departures. Our results indicate that: (1) wind speed may play an important role in Streaked Shearwater takeoff from the colony, and (2) moonlight avoidance is a plastic trait that may diminish in large-bodied shearwaters when few diurnal aerial predators are present.”

Streaked Shearwater

Reference:

Van Tatenhove, A., Fayet, A., Watanuki, Y., Yoda, K. & Shoji, A. 2018.  Streaked Shearwater Calonectris leucomelas moonlight avoidance in response to low aerial predation pressure, and effects of wind speed and direction on colony attendance.  Marine Ornithology 46: 177-185.

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 31 October 2018

The Australian Assistant Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources, Senator Richard Colbeck last week released Australia’s 42-page National Plan of Action for Minimising Incidental Catch of Seabirds in Australian Capture Fisheries (NPOA - Seabirds).

Minister Colbeck said “the NPOA - Seabirds provides guidance on best-practice mitigation, monitoring and reporting of seabird interactions across all fishing activities in Australian waters.  The action plan fulfils our obligations and aligns our national efforts with those of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations International Plan of Action for Reducing Incidental Catch of Seabirds in Longline Fisheries (IPOA - Seabirds).

An Australian endemic Shy Albatross at sea - photograph by Kirk Zufelt

The NPOA’s Foreword signed by Senator Colbeck follows:

“Australian fisheries are among the best managed in the world. The Australian Government is working hard to keep them this way. An important part of this is ensuring that our fisheries resources continue to be managed sustainably and to minimise impacts of fishing activities on the marine environment.

I am pleased to release Australia’s National Plan of Action for Minimising Incidental Catch of Seabirds in Australian Capture Fisheries (NPOA - Seabirds) which provides a national approach to mitigating the impact of fishing on seabirds.

Australia recognises the need to address the impact of fishing on seabirds. This action plan provides guidance on best-practice mitigation, monitoring and reporting of seabird interactions for all fishing activities. It will reduce duplication, target responses to areas that need it most and result in more uniform, efficient and cost-effective seabird bycatch management. Establishing minimum reporting standards will enable us to better understand the extent of seabird interactions across all Australia’s capture fisheries.

NPOA - Seabirds demonstrates Australia’s commitment to sustainable fishing practices internationally. It also fulfils our obligation to Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations by aligning our national efforts with those of the FAO’s International Plan of Action for Reducing Incidental Catch of Seabirds in Longline Fisheries (IPOA - Seabirds).

NPOA - seabirds will enhance the reputation of Australia’s sustainable seafood industry, particularly in high-value export markets, and help strengthen our international seafood brand.

Most importantly, it will build trust among Australians and international consumers that our fisheries are managed under a sustainable and environmentally responsible fisheries management regime.”

With thanks to Barry Baker.

Reference:

 Department of Agriculture and Water Resources 2018.  National Plan of Action for Minimising Incidental Catch of Seabirds in Australian Capture Fisheries.  Canberra: Department of Agriculture and Water Resources.  42 pp.  ISBN: 978-1-76003-182-4

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 30 October 2018