U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Short-Tailed Albatross Recovery Plan September 2008 Disclaimer: Recovery plans describe actions which the best scientific information indicates are required to recover and protect listed species. The Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended, requires Recovery Plans to be prepared for all listed species whose conservation status would benefit by having such a plan. Recovery plans must incorporate: (1) a description of site-specific actions necessary to achieve conservation and survival of the species; (2) objective, measurable criteria, which, when met, would allow removal of the species from the list; and (3) estimates of the time and costs required to implement measures in the plan. Plans are published by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the NMFS, sometimes prepared with the assistance of recovery teams, contractors, state agencies, and others. The recovery plan is an advisory document. It provides a guide, but it does not obligate any party to carry out the actions it describes. The parties involved will consider their available funds and other priorities when deciding whether to fund the tasks and achieve the objectives presented in this recovery plan. Nothing in this plan should be construed as a commitment or requirement that any agency obligate or pay funds in contravention of the Anti-Deficiency Act, 31 U.S.C. 1341, or any other law or regulation. Recovery plans do not necessarily represent the views or the official positions or approval of any individuals or agencies involved in the plan formulation, other than the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. They represent the official position of the Fish and Wildlife Service only after they have been signed by the Regional Director. Approved recovery plans are subject to modification as dictated by new information, changes in species status, and the completion of recovery actions. Please check for updates or revisions at the website below before using. Literature citation should read as follows: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 2008. Short-tailed Albatross Recovery Plan. Anchorage, AK, 105 pp. Recovery plans can be downloaded from: http://endangered.fws.gov/recovery/Index.html#plans Cover photos of Short-Tailed Albatross, Hiroshi Hasegawa, Biology Department, Toho University, Chiba, Japan Short-Tailed Albatross (Phoebastria albatrus) Recovery Plan Prepared by the Short-Tailed Albatross Recovery Team for: Region 7 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Anchorage, Alaska Approved: Regional Director, Alaska Region, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Date: Short-Tailed Albatross Recovery Plan A Short Primer on Recovery Teams A recovery team is a formal advisory group that provides advice on recovery needs and opportunities for species listed as endangered or threatened. Recovery teams are not required; they are convened at the discretion of a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Regional Director. The Service has administrative responsibility for preparing and approving recovery plans. The recovery team focuses on recovery plan development and may also be involved with recovery plan implementation. Short-Tailed Albatross Recovery Team Members Tomohiro Deguchi Haruo Ogi Yamashina Institute of Ornithology Faculty of Fisheries, Hokkaido University Takanoyama 115, Minato-Cho 3-1-1, Abiko, Chiba270-1145 JAPAN Hakadote, Hokkaido, 041-8611, JAPAN Beth Flint Kim Rivera Pacific Remote Islands National Marine Fisheries Service National Wildlife Refuge Complex 709 W. 9th Avenue, Suite 401 P.O. Box 50167 P.O. Box 21668 Honolulu, HI 96850 USA Juneau, AK 99802 USA Hiroshi Hasegawa Graham Robertson Biology Department, Toho University Australian Antarctic Division Miyama 2-2-1, Funabashi, Channel Highway Chiba 274-8510 JAPAN Kingston, Tasmania 7050 AUSTRALIA Hiroyoshi Higuchi Paul Sievert Graduate School of Agriculture and Life Sciences/ USGS, Massachusetts Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Faculty of Agriculture Research Unit University of Tokyo Holdsworth Hall, 160 Holdsworth Way Yayoi 1-1-1, Bunkyo-ku, University of Massachusetts Tokyo 113-8657, JAPAN Amherst, MA 01003-4220 USA Judy Jacobs Thorn Smith U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service North Pacific Longline Association Anchorage Fish and Wildlife Field Office 4209 21st Avenue West, Suite 300 601 W. 4th Avenue, Room G-61 Seattle, WA 98199 USA Anchorage, AK 99501 USA Robert Suryan Hatfield Marine Science Center Kathy Kuletz 2030 SE Marine Science Drive U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Newport, OR 97365-5296 USA Migratory Bird Management 1011 E. Tudor Road Kim Trust Anchorage, AK 99503 USA U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Anchorage Fish and Wildlife Field Office Ed Melvin 601 W. 4th Avenue, Room G-61 Washington Sea Grant Program Anchorage, AK 99501 USA University of Washington, OMERP 3716 Brooklyn Ave. NE Naoki Amako Seattle, WA 98105 USA Ministry of the Environment 1-2-2, Kasumigaseki, Ken Morgan Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, JAPAN Pelagic Seabird Biologist, Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment Canada c/o Institute of Ocean Sciences Team Leader PO Box 6000, 9860 W. Saanich Road Sidney, British Columbia V8L 4B2 CANADA Greg Balogh U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Kiyoaki Ozaki Anchorage Fish and Wildlife Field Office Yamashina Institute of Ornithology 601 W. 4th Avenue, Room G-61 Takanoyama 115, Anchorage, AK 99501 USA Abiko, Chiba270-1145 JAPAN ii Short-Tailed Albatross Recovery Plan Executive Summary Species Status only two remote islands in the western Pacific. The short-tailed albatross (Phoebastria albatrus) Torishima, where 80 to 85 percent of short-tailed was federally listed as endangered throughout its albatross breed, is an active volcano. The range, including the United States, on July 31, Tsubamezaki colony on Torishima where most 2000 (65 FR 147:46643-46654). Prior to that, it of these birds breed, is susceptible to mud slides had been listed as endangered throughout its range and erosion. An additional colony on Torishima, except within the United States and its territorial Hatsunezaki is located on a less hazardous site. waters. At the time of listing, designation of As of the 2007-2008 breeding , 36 pairs nested at critical habitat was determined to be not prudent. Hasunezaki, and an estimated 23 chicks fledged. See 65 FR 147:46651-46653 for a detailed The remainder of known short-tailed albatross description of the critical habitat determination. breed at a site in the Senkaku Islands, to the southwest of Torishima, where volcanism is not Prior to its exploitation, the short-tailed albatross a threat. However political uncertainty and the was possibly the most abundant of the three North potential for oil development create potential Pacific albatross species. Millions of these birds threats. The Japanese Government designated the were harvested by feather hunters prior to and short-tailed albatross as a Natural Monument in following the turn of the 20th century, resulting in 1958, a special Natural Monument in 1962, and a the near-extinction of the species by the mid-20th Special Bird for Protection in 1972. Torishima has century. In June, 2008, about 2400 short-tailed also been designated a National Wildlife Protection albatross were known to exist, with about 450-500 Area (1954) and a Natural Monument (1958). breeding pairs. The species is known to breed on Adult short-tailed albatross displaying golden crest, white body plumage, and disproportionately large pink bill with black base and blue tip. Short-Tailed Albatross Recovery Plan iii Executive Summary Habitat Requirements and Limiting Factors The species may be reclassified from threatened to Short-tailed albatross apparently require remote endangered under the following conditions: islands for breeding habitat. These birds nest in Fewer than 750 breeding pairs exist, and the open, treeless areas with low or no vegetation. population has had a negative growth rate for at Short-tailed albatross spend much of their least 3 years; OR time feeding in continental shelf-break areas (200-1000 m depth, where the continental shelf Breeding colonies occur on fewer than three ends and depths begin to increase markedly) east island groups. of Honshu, Japan during breeding, and in shelf (0-200 m depth) and shelf break areas of the Date of Recovery Bering Sea, Aleutian chain and in other Alaskan, Assuming that we translocate 15 chicks each year Japanese and Russian waters. The major threat of for the next 4 years, and assuming new colony over-exploitation that led to the species’ original establishment is successful, we estimate that the endangered status no longer occurs. The most short-tailed albatross may be delisted in the year notable existing threat to the species’ recovery is 2033. Assuming that the rate of growth observed the possibility of an eruption of Torishima, their over the past 30 years continues, our models main breeding site. A minor eruption occurred assume that the total world population at that time there in August of 2002, after the end of the will be comprised of 5,485 pairs. breeding season. Other existing threats include Important Recovery Actions incidental catch in commercial fisheries, ingestion Although this plan lays out a detailed recovery of plastics, contamination by oil and other budget for only the first 5 years of recovery pollutants, the potential for depredation or habitat implementation, the Service remains committed to degradation by non-native species, and adverse implementing recovery actions for this species until effects related to global climate change. These it no longer requires the protections afforded it by secondary threats will be considered discountable the Endangered Species Act. All recovery actions to the recovery of the species as long as the taking place outside of the U.S. will take place in population continues growing at a high and steady close coordination with appropriate governmental rate, as indicated in the criteria below. entities. Initially, the highest priority short-tailed Recovery Criteria albatross recovery actions include: The short-tailed albatross may be reclassified 1. Continue to monitor population and manage from endangered to threatened under the following habitat on Torishima; conditions: 2.