Helping Southern Giant Petrels on the Continent: two Antarctic management plans revised

Southern Giant Petrels Macronectes giganteus are the only ACAP-listed species that breed on the Antarctic Continent, where their colonies fall within the protection of the Antarctic Treaty System.

Last year's Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM XXXIII) held in Uruguay approved revised management plans for one Antarctic Specially Protected Area (ASPA) and one Antarctic Specially Managed Area (ASMA) where Southern Giant Petrels breed.

These are:

ASPA No. 102.  Rookery Islands, Holme Bay, Mac.Robertson Land. 

ASMA No. 7.  Southwest Anvers Island and Palmer Basin. 

For a complete list of the 15 ASPAs and two ASMAs that support breeding Southern Giant Petrels click here.

Click here for Antarctic localities visited by tourists which have site guideline documents to help protect them.  Five of these sites support breeding Southern Giant Petrels.  They are:

Barrientos Island (Aitcho Islands), South Shetland Islands

Brown BluffAntarctic Peninsula (suspected breeding only)

Hannah PointLivingston Island, South Shetland Islands

Penguin Islandeastern King George Island, South Shetland Islands

Turret Pointeastern King George Island, South Shetland Islands.

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 5 January 2010

The Agreement on the
Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels

ACAP is a multilateral agreement which seeks to conserve listed albatrosses, petrels and shearwaters by coordinating international activity to mitigate known threats to their populations.

About ACAP

ACAP Secretariat

119 Macquarie St
Hobart TAS 7000
Australia

Email: secretariat@acap.aq
Tel: +61 3 6165 6674