Questions & Answers about the short-tailed albatross follow the press release.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service published a proposal today to extend endangered status for the short-tailed albatross to include the species range within the United States.
The short-tailed albatross has been listed as endangered under the U.S. Endangered Species Act since the Act was passed in 1973. However, as a result of an administrative error in the original listing, the United States was specifically excluded from the area in which the endangered status applies for this species. Therefore, individuals that occur in the United States are not currently protected under the provisions of the Act. If made final, this proposal would extend the protective provisions of the Act to short-tailed albatrosses when they occur in the United States.
Short-tailed albatrosses were originally designated as endangered under the Endangered Species Conservation Act of 1969 on the list of foreign-listed species. When the Endangered Species Act replaced the 1969 Act in 1973, short-tailed albatrosses were included as a foreign species but not as a native species. This omission may be partially attributable to the fact that the worldwide population of short-tailed albatrosses was perilously low at the time, and sightings in U.S. waters were uncommon.
Short-tailed albatrosses occur across the North Pacific Ocean south to the northwest Hawaiian Islands, north to the Aleutian Chain, west to the Asian coast, east to the coast of North American, and in the Bering Sea.
Breeding for this species is restricted to remote Torishima and Minami-kojima islands in Japan; unconfirmed reports indicate breeding may also have occurred on Midway Atoll in the Hawaiian Islands and two adult birds have occupied separate breeding sites there in recent years, although no eggs have hatched.
The worldwide population of short-tailed albatrosses is extremely small; there are fewer than 500 breeding age birds, and approximately 1000 birds in the world.
Breeding habitat and future survival and recovery are threatened by volcanic activity and monsoon rains on Torishima Island, and by disputed ownership of Minami-kojima Island.
Mortalities caused by longline fishing, plastics pollution, and oil spills may also affect conservation of this species at the current low population level.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has been working extensively with the fishing industry and the National Marine Fisheries Service to minimize the effects of longline fishing on the short-tailed albatross and other seabirds. Longline fishers are required to use seabird deterrent devices while fishing. The agencies expect short-tailed albatross mortalities will not exceed four birds over two years if deterrent methods are used effectively. If more than four birds are taken, the industry could face additional requirements or restrictions to minimize short-tailed albatross mortalities and to ensure that the survival and recovery of the worldwide population is not jeopardized.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal Federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting, and enhancing fish and wildlife and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The Service manages the 93-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System comprised of more than 500 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands, and other special management areas. It also operates 66 national fish hatcheries and 78 ecological services field stations. The agency enforces Federal wildlife laws, administers the Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat such as wetlands, and helps foreign governments with their conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Aid program that distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise tax on fishing and hunting equipment to state wildlife agencies.
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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Proposed Rule to List the Short-Tailed Albatross as Endangered in the United States, and to Correct the Historic Range of the Species to Include Taiwan and Canada
Q: Is the short-tailed albatross currently listed?
A: Yes, the species is listed rangewide, except in the United States.
Q: What would change if this proposal becomes final?
A: The short-tailed albatross would be listed as endangered rangewide, including the United States.
Q: Does that mean that more individuals will be protected by the Endangered Species Act?
A: No, it means that the same individuals designated as endangered outside of the U.S. will now also be protected under the provisions of the ESA when they enter the U.S. (water or land).
Q: Will the listing result in more protection for the birds in the United States?
A: Yes, taking of any individuals will be prohibited under the Endangered Species Act, any research activities will require an Endangered Species Act permit, and federal agencies will be required to consult with the Service about any activities that may affect the species. This will result in more protection for any birds occurring on Midway Atoll, and birds occurring in State waters around Alaska and Hawaii.
Q: Will the listing result in restricted fishing activities in Alaska and Hawaii?
A: The effects of longlining for groundfish and halibut fisheries in Alaska managed by the National Marine Fisheries Service have been previously addressed through interagency consultation. The Service will need to carefully consider the potential affects of the Hawaiian longline fishery on short-tailed albatrosses. If short-tailed albatrosses are listed in the U.S., any take (to harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect, or attempt to engage in any such conduct) of short-tailed albatrosses will be prohibited under the Act.
Q: Why is the short-tailed albatross endangered?
A: Large scale harvests in the early 1900s reduced the world population from millions of birds to less than 50 birds by the middle of the century. Today, the worldwide population is still extremely small; there are fewer than 500 breeding birds in the world, and approximately 1000 birds total (including immature and juvenile birds). Breeding habitat and future survival and recovery are threatened by volcanic activity and monsoon rains on Torishima Island, and by disputed ownership of territory on Minami-kojima Island. Mortalities caused by longline fishing, plastics pollution, and oil spills may also affect the conservation of this species at the current low population level.
Q: Why is the Service not proposing to designate critical habitat?
A: The Endangered Species Act requires that critical habitat be designated at the time of listing unless such designation would not be beneficial. Critical habitat cannot be designated outside the U.S. Designation of critical habitat in the marine range of the species would not be prudent because, although foraging areas are essential to the conservation of short-tailed albatrosses, there is currently no information to support a conclusion that any specific areas are uniquely important. Designation on Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge (the only location in the U.S where short-tailed albatrosses occur during the breeding season) would not be prudent because the future potential for the Refuge to serve as a geographically distinct breeding colony to recover the species would be best realized through the existing refuge system. In addition, the threats to individuals would be adequately addressed through the jeopardy standard of section 7 consultations and section 9 provisions of the Act.
Q: If this proposal is made final, what activities will not result in violation of the Endangered Species Act protections for the short-tailed albatross under normal conditions?
A: The Service does not expect fisheries other than longline fisheries to result in adverse effects to short-tailed albatrosses.
Q: Is the Service working with the fishing industry?
A: Yes, the Service has been working extensively with the fishing industry and other agencies to minimize the effects of longline fishing on short-tailed albatrosses and other seabirds.
