Grey-headed albatross  (Thalassarche chrysostoma)

This species is in sharp decline in all monitored populations, with an estimated overall decrease of 48% over three generations (90 years). As with many other albatross species, this decline is largely owing to mortality on longline fisheries (1). In Australian waters up to approximately 400 individuals (over 80% juvenile) were killed annually between 1989 and 1995 by Japanese longliners. In the Indian Ocean an estimated 10,000-20,000 albatrosses, mainly the grey-headed albatross, were killed in 1997 and 1998 by illegal or unregulated fishing for Patagonian toothfish (Dissostichus eleginoides). In contrast, the long-term decline at Cambell appears to be caused predominantly by environmental factors, with rising sea-surface temperatures thought to be causing food shortages (7). Squid fisheries may also impact on populations in some areas (3).

The grey-headed albatross is listed on Appendix II on the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species (CMS), which states that these species would significantly benefit from international cooperation (4). It is also on Annex 1 of the Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels (ACAP), which seeks to coordinate activity to mitigate known threats to albatrosses (8). Population monitoring and foraging studies are being undertaken at South Georgia, Diego Ramirez, Marion, Macquarie and Cambell Islands. Macquarie and Cambell are World Heritage Sites and the Prince Edward Islands are a special Nature Reserve (7). As with all migratory species, however, it is unlikely that conservation action by one country acting independently of other nations will be fully effective, and clearly international action is required (8). Crucially, progress needs to be made in preventing entanglement in fishing gear and bycatch by longline fisheries if this albatross is to flourish once more.