Fauna Spotters logo

Black-browed Albatross (Thalassarche melanophris)

The Black-browed Albatross is a circumpolar seabird that occurs in Australian waters, including southern coastal waters and the continental shelf. It favours shelf and shelf-break areas, so works affecting these marine habitats are relevant.

Conservation status

Commonwealth, EPBC Act 1999: Vulnerable.

New South Wales, Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016: Vulnerable.

Western Australia, Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016: Endangered.

Tasmania, Threatened Species Protection Act 1995: Endangered.

Commonwealth, EPBC Act 1999: Listed migratory. Listed migratory species are a matter of national environmental significance, so a significant impact needs referral.

Commonwealth, EPBC Act 1999: Listed marine. A listed marine species under Part 13 of the EPBC Act. Killing, injuring, taking or moving it in a Commonwealth area needs a permit.

Seasonal planning

Regularly recorded off the NSW coast during this period.

Seasonal evidence: From published sources for this species.

Timing varies between sites and years.

  • May to November: Regularly recorded off the NSW coast during this period.

Identification: Appearance

A dark streak above the eye gives the bird a frowning appearance. Its wingspan is about 230 cm.

A dark streak above the eye gives the bird a frowning appearance. Its wingspan is about 230 cm.

Identification: Confirming identity

Confirm the identity of any suspected record with a specialist and a photograph or voucher, as required by the relevant permit.

Distribution: Known range

The species occurs around the Southern Ocean and migrates north to forage over continental shelf waters off Australia. It is regularly recorded off NSW from May to November, occurs in southern Australian waters, and has occasionally been recorded in south-east Queensland.

The species occurs around the Southern Ocean and migrates north to forage over continental shelf waters off Australia. It is regularly recorded off NSW from May to November, occurs in southern Australian waters, and has occasionally been recorded in south-east Queensland.

Distribution: National mapping

The Commonwealth species distribution model (SNES) maps where the species or its habitat is known, likely or may occur. Use it with local records and site inspection.

Habitat: Habitat

It inhabits Antarctic, subantarctic, subtropical marine and coastal waters, including areas over upwellings and current boundaries. It favours shelf and shelf-break waters, and may also use harbours, bays and channels.

It inhabits Antarctic, subantarctic, subtropical marine and coastal waters, including areas over upwellings and current boundaries. It favours shelf and shelf-break waters, and may also use harbours, bays and channels.

Foraging habitat: Diet

Not documented in the published sources used for this profile.

Not documented in the published sources used for this profile.

Breeding habitat: Breeding

It breeds in colonies on subantarctic and Antarctic islands. Pairs nest annually and lay a single egg; nests may be placed on vegetated cliffs or steep slopes.

It breeds in colonies on subantarctic and Antarctic islands. Pairs nest annually and lay a single egg; nests may be placed on vegetated cliffs or steep slopes.

Sheltering habitat: Shelter

At sea, Black-browed Albatrosses are often found sheltering in harbours, bays and channels.

At sea, Black-browed Albatrosses are often found sheltering in harbours, bays and channels.

Threats: Threats

Long-line fishing in Australian waters is a documented source of bycatch mortality for the species.

Long-line fishing in Australian waters is a documented source of bycatch mortality for the species.

Threats: Works risk

Long-line fishing operations in Australian waters can kill Black-browed Albatrosses as bycatch.

Survey methodology: 1. Commonwealth guidance

Use methods consistent with the Commonwealth survey guidelines and engage a specialist with the right permits.

For EPBC Act referrals, survey effort and methods should be consistent with the survey guidelines for Australia's threatened birds, read with the Significant impact guidelines 1.1.

Survey methodology: 2. Limits

A non-detection is not proof of absence. Match survey timing to the species and season, and record effort.

Vegetation associations

Source-checked associations and automatically indexed candidates are separated below. An association does not establish site presence, preference or dependence.

No species-specific vegetation association has been indexed or source-checked in this evidence library. This is an evidence gap, not evidence of no association.

Ecosystem associations

Source-checked associations and automatically indexed candidates are separated below. An association does not establish site presence, preference or dependence.

No species-specific ecosystem association has been indexed or source-checked in this evidence library. This is an evidence gap, not evidence of no association.

Soil and substrate associations

Source-checked associations and automatically indexed candidates are separated below. An association does not establish site presence, preference or dependence.

No species-specific soil association has been indexed or source-checked in this evidence library. This is an evidence gap, not evidence of no association.

Water and wetland associations

Source-checked associations and automatically indexed candidates are separated below. An association does not establish site presence, preference or dependence.

No species-specific water association has been indexed or source-checked in this evidence library. This is an evidence gap, not evidence of no association.

Fauna records and mapped habitat: Not yet analysed

Record locations can be overlaid with mapping, but record frequency alone does not measure habitat preference. No species is excluded from desktop assessments by this analysis.

No quality-controlled record-to-map analysis has been completed for this species. The existing generalised distribution dots and indicative range polygons have not been treated as precise occurrence coordinates.

A defensible run needs dated, independently attributable records, coordinate uncertainty, duplicate and captive-record checks, layer versions and regional scope. Preference and absence require additional survey-effort and detection evidence.

Habitat limitations and contrary evidence: No supported exclusion recorded

Not recorded is not the same as cannot occur. Low suitability, resident habitat, breeding habitat and occasional movement are different conclusions.

This library has not established a vegetation, ecosystem or soil-type exclusion for this species. This does not mean all habitat is suitable; the evidence needed to justify an exclusion has not been assembled.

Habitat limitations and contrary evidence: Before using a negative association

  • Confirm the taxon, geographic region, life stage and habitat function covered by the evidence.
  • Check survey methods, season, repeated effort and detectability before interpreting non-detection.
  • Investigate credible contradictory records and microhabitats absent from broad mapping.
  • Do not convert a missing map class, low record count or failed data request into species absence.

Before disturbance: 1. Desktop and approvals

Confirm whether the project could affect the species before works begin.

Check national mapping, state records and recent surveys for the site. An action likely to have a significant impact on this nationally listed species needs EPBC Act referral, and state permits apply where it is state listed.

Before disturbance: 2. Plan to avoid

Plan in-water works, vessel movements and lighting to avoid known habitat and sensitive periods, and set observer and shutdown procedures before works start.

During disturbance: 1. Controls

Keep works inside the approved footprint and conditions.

Use spotters and exclusion zones for in-water works and vessels, and pause works if the species is seen within the zone.

During disturbance: 2. Stop and report

If the species is found unexpectedly, stop work at that spot and contact the project ecologist and the relevant agency.

After disturbance: 1. Records

Record outcomes.

Record sightings, habitat lost or retained and any injury or death, and report them under the approval conditions.

Rehabilitation: 1. Restore

Restore disturbed habitat where possible.

Remove temporary structures, restore natural flow and substrate, and monitor water quality until it returns to baseline.

Sources