Northern Giant Petrel - Conservation

Conservation

Breeding Population and Trends
Location Population Date Trend
South Georgia 4,500 pair 2005 Increasing 30% per 20 yr
Forty-Fours 2,000 pair 2000
Middle Sister 80—100 pair 2000
Kerguelen Islands 1,450—1,800 pair 1989
Crozet Islands 1,300 pair 1989 Decreasing
Macquarie Island 1,300 pair Stable or Increasing
Prince Edward Islands 650 pair Increasing
Antipodes Island 230 pair 2003
Campbell Island 230 pair 2000
Auckland Islands 50 pair 2000
Total 17,000—21,000 2001 Increasing 34% per 10 yr

Overall their population stands at between 17,000 and 21,000 mature birds, based on a 2001 estimate. This number has been increasing over the last two decades even though it was forecast to decrease. This increase has allowed the IUCN to downgrade them from Near Threatened to Least Concern. Recent surveys have shown that most locations are increasing in numbers except for Crozet Islands. This is probably due to increases in fish waste, better control on longline fishing, and more carrion from Fur Seals.

Currently this bird is listed on CMS Appendix II and ACAP Annex 1. Future plans are to maintain the surveys and counting of individuals, researching movement and migrations, continuing the trend of lowering the bycatch deaths by current means and if needed newer measures through CCAMLR, CMS, and FAO.

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