Albatross and petrel distribution within the WCPFC area [EB WP3] Agreement for the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels (ACAP)

By: Contributor(s): Language: ENG Publication details: [Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia] Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) 2008Description: Various paging 30 cm. ill., tables, mapsSubject(s): DDC classification:
  • 639.27783
Online resources: Summary: "This paper presents an analysis of the seasonal distribution of albatrosses and petrels within the WCPFC area, using remote tracking data from the Global Procellariiform Tracking Database. The WCPFC Convention Area overlaps with the distribution of 18 of the 22 species of albatross, and the Global Procellariiform Tracking Database holds relevant remote tracking data for 14 of these. This analysis highlights the high importance of WCPFC for global albatross distribution, with at 11 of these species having over 50% of their distribution in the WCPFC Convention Area in one or more seasons of the year, and 9 of these having over 40% of their distribution in one or more seasons in areas in which WCPFC longline fishing effort occurs. Fewer data are available for petrel and shearwater species, but at least Sooty Shearwater and Westland Petrel also have high overlap with WCPFC longline effort. Seasonally, the three North Pacific albatross species (Laysan, Black-foot and Short-tailed) have a high overlap with the WCPFC Convention Area throughout the year. In the South Pacific, the distribution of some species varies markedly by season. However, species vary in the timing of these migrations, such that overlap between albatross distribution and WCPFC longline fishing effort occurs throughout the year. The analysis indicates that the mitigation areas defined in WCPFC-CMM-2007-04 incorporates a high proportion of the distribution of albatrosses, petrels and shearwaters (the species considered most at risk of bycatch in longline fisheries) in the West and Central Pacific. Less than 20% of WCPFC longline fishing effort is distributed in these areas. The analysis presented here is based on available remote-tracking data, and key data gaps remain. In relation to the WCPFC area, priority tracking data gaps (in terms of those species most likely to have high overlap with WCPFC longline fishing effort) include: (1) lack of tracking data for Salvin’s Albatross, (2) lack of tracking data for non-breeding season for Buller's Albatross and Campbell Albatross, (3) lack of tracking data for Short-tailed Shearwater, (4) lack of tracking data for Northern Giant-petrels from the Chatham Islands, and (5) lack of tracking data from some major colonies of Laysan and Black-footed Albatross. The collection of tracking data to fill these gaps would improve the analysis. Seabird-at-sea observations are also an important source of distribution data for other seabird species within the WCPFC area."
Item type: Meeting Paper
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Holdings
Current library Call number Status Date due Barcode
SPC Special Collections SPC 639.277 83 WES 2008 Available

"WCPFC-SC4-2008/EB-WP-3"

"Paper prepared for Fourth meeting of the WCPFC Ecosystem and Bycatch Specialist Working Group (Port Moresby, 14 August 2008)"

Includes bibliographical references (p. 11-12)

"This paper presents an analysis of the seasonal distribution of albatrosses and petrels within the WCPFC area, using remote tracking data from the Global Procellariiform Tracking Database. The WCPFC Convention Area overlaps with the distribution of 18 of the 22 species of albatross, and the Global Procellariiform Tracking Database holds relevant remote tracking data for 14 of these. This analysis highlights the high importance of WCPFC for global albatross distribution, with at 11 of these species having over 50% of their distribution in the WCPFC Convention Area in one or more seasons of the year, and 9 of these having over 40% of their distribution in one or more seasons in areas in which WCPFC longline fishing effort occurs. Fewer data are available for petrel and shearwater species, but at least Sooty Shearwater and Westland Petrel also have high overlap with WCPFC longline effort. Seasonally, the three North Pacific albatross species (Laysan, Black-foot and Short-tailed) have a high overlap with the WCPFC Convention Area throughout the year. In the South Pacific, the distribution of some species varies markedly by season. However, species vary in the timing of these migrations, such that overlap between albatross distribution and WCPFC longline fishing effort occurs throughout the year. The analysis indicates that the mitigation areas defined in WCPFC-CMM-2007-04 incorporates a high proportion of the distribution of albatrosses, petrels and shearwaters (the species considered most at risk of bycatch in longline fisheries) in the West and Central Pacific. Less than 20% of WCPFC longline fishing effort is distributed in these areas. The analysis presented here is based on available remote-tracking data, and key data gaps remain. In relation to the WCPFC area, priority tracking data gaps (in terms of those species most likely to have high overlap with WCPFC longline fishing effort) include: (1) lack of tracking data for Salvin’s Albatross, (2) lack of tracking data for non-breeding season for Buller's Albatross and Campbell Albatross, (3) lack of tracking data for Short-tailed Shearwater, (4) lack of tracking data for Northern Giant-petrels from the Chatham Islands, and (5) lack of tracking data from some major colonies of Laysan and Black-footed Albatross. The collection of tracking data to fill these gaps would improve the analysis. Seabird-at-sea observations are also an important source of distribution data for other seabird species within the WCPFC area."