Justification This species is listed as Endangered on the basis of a projected future rapid population decline over the next three generations (56 years), taking account of estimated rates of incidental mortality in longline fisheries in the north Pacific Ocean. However, an onging review of the species's population status may lead to a review of its categorisation.

Family/Sub-family Diomedeidae

Species name author (Audubon, 1849)

Taxonomic source(s) AOU checklist (1998 + supplements), Brooke (2004), Cramp and Simmons (1977-1994), Robertson and Nunn (1998), Sibley and Monroe (1990, 1993), Stotz et al. (1996), Turbott (1990)

Synonyms Diomedea nigripes Turbott (1990), Diomedea nigripes Stotz et al. (1996), Diomedea nigripes Sibley and Monroe (1990, 1993), Diomedea nigripes Cramp and Simmons (1977-1994)

Identification Identification. 68-74 cm. Small, all dark albatross, uppertail coverts normally white. Dark bill, dark legs. Juvenile, even more uniform brown. Similar species. None within range.

Population estimate

Population trend

Range estimate (breeding/resident)

Country endemic?

120,000

decreasing

37,600,000 km²

No

Range & population Phoebastria nigripes breeds on the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (USA), the US Minor Outlying Islands and three outlying islands of Japan, colonies having been lost from other Pacific islands^3,14. In total there are estimated to be 64,500 pairs breeding each year^25,30 in at least 14 locations. The largest populations are c.24,000 and 21,000 pairs on Midway Atoll and Laysan Island, respectively, which together account for 73% of the global population^25,30. On Torishima, 20 chicks were reared in 1964, compared to 914 from 1,219 pairs in 1998⁴. The species disperses widely over the north Pacific Ocean, particularly to the north-east , toward the coastal waters of North America. There have been occasional records in the southern hemisphere^{2,19, 21, 23, 24, 27}.

Important Bird Areas Click here to view map showing IBAs where species is recorded and triggers any of the IBA criteria.

Ecology: Black-footed Albatross breed on beaches and slopes with little or no vegetation, and on short turf. It feeds mainly on flying fish eggs, squid, fish and crustaceans⁹, but also fish offal and human refuse³.

Threats Black-footed Albatross populations declined significantly due to feather and egg collecting in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The population then recovered during the first half of the twentieth century, but has shown a declining trend in the last 15 years²⁵. From 1978-1992, Black-footed Albatross experienced mortality from interactions with high seas drift-nets in the North Pacific¹¹. Bycatch estimates from driftnets put yearly bycatch (at least in 1990) at c.4,000 birds per year. Currently, Black-footed Albatross interacts with longline fisheries in the North Pacific. In 2003, Lewison and Crowder estimated mortality to be at least 2,000 birds per year in US-based fisheries and a further 6,000 in Japanese/Taiwanese fleets¹⁵. Recent estimates indicate a significant reduction in US longline bycatch from previous years that is very likely attributable to the use of effective seabird avoidance measures, with an average of 130 birds killed per year in longline fisheries in Alaska and Hawaii between 2004-6 ²⁸. Bycatch rates in the Japanese and Taiwanese longline fleets are still largely unknown. However, analysis of adult survival rates has identified an impact of fisheries mortality²², and comparisons of the estimated magnitude of bycatch with maximum possible growth rate indicate a non-negligible impact of bycatch ²⁹. Satellite tracking studies that show that post-breeding birds disperse over large distances to the oceanographic 'transition zone' where they are susceptible to bycatch in the US and foreign pelagic longline fleets^{18, 19, 21}. Other threats include pollution (including organochlorines and heavy metals)^{1,12, 26}, loss of nests to waves⁵, introduced predators¹⁰ (notably the Polynesian Rat Rattus exulans³¹), oiling, plastic ingestion and volcanic eruption on Torishima⁸.

Conservation measures underway All Hawaiian breeding localities are part of the US National Wildlife Refuge system or State of Hawaii Seabird Sanctuaries. In 1991, a 50 Nautical Mile Protected Species Zone was established around the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. No longline fishing is allowed in this zone. In 2006, the Papahânaumokuâkea Marine National Monument was established. Nearly 80% of the breeding population is counted directly or sampled every year. All sites except one have been surveyed since 1991⁵. Hawaiian longline fishing vessels are required to use a range of measures to reduce seabird bycatch. In December 2006, the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission passed a measure to require large tuna and swordfish longline vessels to use at least two seabird bycatch mitigation measures when fishing north of 23 degrees North.

Conservation measures proposed Continue monitoring population trends and demographic parameters. Continue satellite-tracking studies to assess temporal and spatial overlap with longline fisheries. Adopt best-practice mitigation measures in longline fisheries within the species' range. Revaluate the location of the current boundary (23^o N) for required use of seabird mitigation measures in the U.S. pelagic longline fisheries¹⁸.

References 1. Auman et al. (1997). 2. Carboneras (1992b). 3. Cousins (1998). 4. Cousins and Cooper (2000). 5. Croxall and Gales (1998). 7. Gould and Hobbs (1993). 8. Harrison (1990). 9. Harrison et al. (1983). 10. Hasegawa (1984). 11. Johnson et al. (1993). 12. Jones et al. (1996). 13. USFWS data per E. Flint (2003). 14. Whittow (1993). 15. Lewison and Crowder (2003). 16. Gilman and Freifeld (2003). 18. Hyrenbach and Dotson (2003). 19. BirdLife International (2004). 20. Walsh and Edwards (2003). 21. Hyrenbach et al. (2006). 22. Veran et al (2007). 23 Fernandez et al. (2001). 24. Hyrenbach and Dotson (2001). 25. Naughton et al. (2007). 26. Finkelstein et al. (2007). 27. Scott Shaffer in litt. (2007). 28. Kim Rivera in litt. (2007). 29. Niel and Lebreton (2005). 30. Flint (2007). 31. Jones et al. (2008)

Further web sources of information

Fully detailed species accounts from the Threatened birds of Asia: the BirdLife International Red Data Book (BirdLife International 2001), together with new information collated since the publication of the Red Data Book

Text account compilers Stuart Butchart (BirdLife International), Deon Nel (BirdLife Seabird Programme), Cleo Small (BirdLife International Global Seabird Programme), Alison Stattersfield (BirdLife International), Ben Sullivan (BirdLife International Global Seabird Programme)

Contributors Beth Flint (US Fish & Wildlife Service), Rosemary Gales (Tasmanian National Parks and Wildlife Service), Eric Gilman (National Audubon Society), Rebecca Lewison (Duke University), Liz Mitchell (Seabird Bycatch Project), Deon Nel (WWF South Africa), Kim Rivera (US National Marine Fisheries Service), Scott Shaffer (University of California Santa Cruz)

IUCN Red List evaluators Stuart Butchart (BirdLife International), Cleo Small (BirdLife International Global Seabird Programme), Ben Sullivan (BirdLife International Global Seabird Programme)

Recommended citation BirdLife International (2009) Species factsheet: Phoebastria nigripes. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 10/2/2010

This information is based upon, and updates, the information published in BirdLife International (2000) Threatened birds of the world. Barcelona and Cambridge, UK: Lynx Edicions and BirdLife International, BirdLife International (2004) Threatened birds of the world 2004 CD-ROM and BirdLife International (2008) Threatened birds of the world 2008 CD-ROM. These sources provide the information for species accounts for the birds on the IUCN Red List.

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