Satellite tracking of Black-footed Albatross (Phoebastria nigripes): oceanographic and conservation implications

The Black-footed Albatross Phoebastria nigripes (BFAL) and the Laysan Albatross Phoebastria immutabilis (LYAL) are susceptible to bycatch in longline fisheries across the North Pacific Ocean. Although substantial population declines have been projected using fishing effort and bycatch estimates, little is known about the movements and threats faced by individual albatross at-sea, especially during their post-breeding dispersal. We have used satellite tracking to investigate the movements and habitats of these two sympatrically-breeding North Pacific Albatrosses during the breeding season and their post-breeding dispersal. These species were first tagged at breeding colonies on Tern Island (NW Hawaiian Islands) in 1998. We also used satellite tracking to investigate Black-footed Albatross movements, habitat-use, and overlap with longline fisheries during the summer - fall (July - October ) of 2004 and 2005. We tagged 18 birds from the Hawaiian breeding population off central California, and tracked their movements for 748 albatross/days, with individual deployments ranging from 22-57 days. Together, these studies are assembling an improved understanding of the movements, oceanographic habitats, and threats faced by North Pacific albatrosses. During the breeding season, we have documented segregation of sympatrically-breeding albatrosses into different water masses, with vast commuting flights to the Gulf of Alaska / Bering Sea / North Pacific Transition Zone (LYAL) and the California Current shelf / slope regions (BFAL). Post-breeding Black-footed Albatrosses range even more widely, venturing into the NW Pacific Ocean and the Bering Sea. These large-scale movements have important implications for the conservation of the species, since these birds venture across national exclusive economic zones (E.E.Z.s) and regional fishery management organizations (RFMOs), with disregard for jurisdictional boundaries.