Foraging of royal albatrosses,Diomedea epomophora, from the Otago Peninsula and its relationships to fisheries

• DOI: 10.1139/f05-001
• Publication Date: 2005-07-11T19:47:36Z
• Authors: Susan Waugh; Dominique Filippi; Akira Fukuda; Makio Suzuki; Hiroyoshi Higuchi; Alvin Setiawan; Lloyd Davis
• Keywords: Peninsula; Albatross

Foraging zones used by incubating royal albatrosses (Diomedea epomophora) from the Otago Peninsula and their coincidence with fisheries activities were studied global positioning system (GPS) loggers. Birds favoured areas around shelf break of eastern New Zealand continental mass, hot spots activity that coincided fishing actively exploited commercial trawl during study period. appeared to change behaviours proximity events, showing reduced speed more direct flight when at moderate distances operations (12.5–25 km) than greater distances. This relationship was significant for only (P < 0.029). Fishing hoki (Macruronus novaezelandiae) deep-sea species those most numerous associations albatross foraging flights also common Waters along breaks within 100 km breeding colony extremely important albatrosses, 28% GPS locations being obtained this radius study. Royal Campbell Island, previously, had fed in area extensively. spent 2–19 days sea, travelling 2000 km, on average, trips.