Antipodean albatross breed at Antipodes Islands, to the south of New Zealand. Its population has been declining since 2005. Data collected since 1994 were used to make a model of the albatross population. The model showed that the number of albatrosses, their survival rates (especially for females), and their breeding rates have all decreased. This study looked at whether fishing, climate change, plastic pollution, and diseases could be causing the population decline. To find out, the study looked at where the albatrosses go when they are away from Antipodes Island. Female albatrosses spend more time in the Tasman Sea and north-east of New Zealand than males do. The study didn’t find one clear reason for the albatross decline. But, it suggested that an increase in tuna fishing in the Tasman Sea, after 2006, might be a factor. The study suggested that we need more information on albatross captures by tuna fishing vessels in the Tasman Sea.

Antipodean albatross breed on Antipodes Islands, to the south of New Zealand. They travel from there across the southern Pacific Ocean. The albatrosses have been tracked using tags that record their location. In this study, the tracking data were analysed. Males and females, and birds of different ages, tend to use different areas. Females travel more to the west, to the Tasman Sea, while males go further south. Young birds and breeding birds stay closer to New Zealand than non-breeding adults. The study found three places the birds consistently use a lot—the ocean east of New Zealand, the Tasman Sea between Australia and New Zealand, and an area off the coast of Chile in South America. By comparing the overlap between the distribution of the albatrosses and fishing activity, places were identified where albatrosses could accidentally get caught on fishing lines. This research could be used to help understand how fishing is impacting Antipodean albatross.