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Southern Royal Albatross (Diomedea epomophora)

The Southern Royal Albatross is a large seabird that occurs offshore in Australian waters, including around southeastern Australia. It uses open ocean and shelf and shelf-break waters, making marine activities in these areas relevant to the species.

Conservation status

Commonwealth, EPBC Act 1999: Vulnerable.

Victoria, Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988: Critically endangered.

South Australia, National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972: Vulnerable.

Western Australia, Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016: Vulnerable.

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

The species can be observed throughout the year in southern seas and is common offshore of Australia.

Seasonal evidence: From published sources for this species.

Timing varies between sites and years.

  • Year-round: The species can be observed throughout the year in southern seas and is common offshore of Australia.

Identification: Appearance

This is a huge albatross, with a reported length of 112 to 123 cm and an average wingspan above 3 m. Its range averages farther south than that of the Northern Royal Albatross, although the two species overlap.

This is a huge albatross, with a reported length of 112 to 123 cm and an average wingspan above 3 m. Its range averages farther south than that of the Northern Royal Albatross, although the two species overlap.

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 breeds in New Zealand and ranges widely across the Southern Ocean. Band recoveries indicate a circumpolar distribution, generally between 30° and 55° south, including waters around southeastern Australia.

The species breeds in New Zealand and ranges widely across the Southern Ocean. Band recoveries indicate a circumpolar distribution, generally between 30° and 55° south, including waters around southeastern Australia.

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 spends time in open ocean and over shelf and shelf-break waters. Birds from Campbell Island forage across the Campbell Plateau and nearby waters, while the species is also described as pelagic and common offshore of Australia.

It spends time in open ocean and over shelf and shelf-break waters. Birds from Campbell Island forage across the Campbell Plateau and nearby waters, while the species is also described as pelagic and common offshore of Australia.

Foraging habitat: Diet

The diet includes squid and fish, with smaller amounts of carrion, crustaceans and salps. Birds forage over shelf and shelf-break waters.

The diet includes squid and fish, with smaller amounts of carrion, crustaceans and salps. Birds forage over shelf and shelf-break waters.

Breeding habitat: Breeding

Breeding is confined to Campbell Island and the Auckland Islands, with most of the breeding population on Campbell Island. The species breeds biennially after a successful attempt and lays one egg.

Breeding is confined to Campbell Island and the Auckland Islands, with most of the breeding population on Campbell Island. The species breeds biennially after a successful attempt and lays one egg.

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

Longline fishing is identified as a major problem for the species. A shrub, Dracophyllum, is also reported as a possible emerging threat to its nesting range.

Longline fishing is identified as a major problem for the species. A shrub, Dracophyllum, is also reported as a possible emerging threat to its nesting range.

Threats: Works risk

Longline fishing is identified as a major problem for the species. Marine activities in its shelf and shelf-break foraging waters, including waters around southeastern Australia, are relevant to managing potential impacts.

Survey methodology: 1. Species-specific methods

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

Band recoveries have been used to indicate the species’ broad distribution and movements.

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