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Gibson's Albatross (Diomedea antipodensis gibsoni)

Gibson’s Albatross is a large seabird that breeds in New Zealand’s Auckland Islands and occurs at sea in Australian waters, particularly the Tasman Sea and waters off southern and southeastern Australia. It uses open ocean and continental shelf waters, including the Great Australian Bight.

Conservation status

Commonwealth, EPBC Act 1999: Vulnerable.

Queensland, Nature Conservation Act 1992: Vulnerable.

Western Australia, Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016: Endangered.

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

Gibson’s Albatrosses are recorded off Sydney and Wollongong from May to October, and at Bremer Canyon in December.

Seasonal evidence: From published sources for this species.

Timing varies between sites and years.

  • Present in Australian waters: Gibson’s Albatrosses are recorded off Sydney and Wollongong from May to October, and at Bremer Canyon in December.

Identification: Appearance

The Gibson’s Albatross is generally whiter than the nominate Antipodean Albatross, with white extending onto part of the upperwing and more white in the tail. It has brown vermiculations in its plumage.

The Gibson’s Albatross is generally whiter than the nominate Antipodean Albatross, with white extending onto part of the upperwing and more white in the tail. It has brown vermiculations in its plumage.

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

At sea, it ranges across the Tasman Sea and along the continental shelf of southeastern Australia, the Great Australian Bight and eastern New Zealand. Its recorded range extends from southwestern Australia to waters east of the Chatham Islands, and north into the Coral Sea.

At sea, it ranges across the Tasman Sea and along the continental shelf of southeastern Australia, the Great Australian Bight and eastern New Zealand. Its recorded range extends from southwestern Australia to waters east of the Chatham Islands, and north into the Coral Sea.

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 forages mainly over open seas, including waters beyond the continental shelf and around shelf breaks. Its principal oceanic habitat is the Tasman Sea, with use of the continental shelf off southern and southeastern Australia.

It forages mainly over open seas, including waters beyond the continental shelf and around shelf breaks. Its principal oceanic habitat is the Tasman Sea, with use of the continental shelf off southern and southeastern Australia.

Foraging habitat: Diet

Its food includes fish, squid and discards from fishing vessels.

Its food includes fish, squid and discards from fishing vessels.

Breeding habitat: Breeding

Gibson’s Albatross breeds only in the Auckland Islands. Most pairs nest on Adams Island, with smaller numbers on Disappointment Island and Auckland Island.

Gibson’s Albatross breeds only in the Auckland Islands. Most pairs nest on Adams Island, with smaller numbers on Disappointment Island and Auckland Island.

Sheltering habitat: Shelter

Not documented in the published sources used for this profile.

Not documented in the published sources used for this profile.

Threats: Threats

Fishing bycatch, including from longline fishing, and marine pollution are identified threats. Feral pigs and cats also affect birds on Auckland Island.

Fishing bycatch, including from longline fishing, and marine pollution are identified threats. Feral pigs and cats also affect birds on Auckland Island.

Threats: Works risk

Longline fishing in waters used by Gibson’s Albatross can cause bycatch, and marine pollution is also identified as a threat. Activities in the Tasman Sea and off southern and southeastern Australia should account for the birds’ use of these waters.

Survey methodology: 1. Species-specific methods

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

Bird tracking has been used to describe at-sea distribution, and population monitoring has been conducted at breeding sites.

Survey methodology: 2. Commonwealth guidance

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: 3. 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