Global political responsibility for the conservation of ACAP Priority Populations of albatrosses and petrels of relevance to CCAMLR

The Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels (ACAP) has identified nine Priority Populations for conservation on which advocacy and other activities might focus. Here we present the results of an analysis of global political responsibility for the seven ACAP Priority Populations of relevance for CCAMLR, based on tracking data, that identifies the jurisdictions where most time is spent. Six of eight Priority Populations spent more time in the High Seas than in any area under national jurisdiction during the year. Countries other than the breeding range state where a Priority Population spent >5% of time were Chile (Antipodean Albatross from Antipodes Island, Wandering Albatross from South Georgia), Australia (Indian Yellow-nosed Albatross from Amsterdam Island), Namibia and South Africa (Black-browed Albatross from South Georgia. The tuna RFMOs where Priority Populations spent >5% of their time were ICCAT (Tristan Albatross, Wandering Albatross, Black-browed Albatross, Grey-headed Albatross from South Georgia, IOTC (Tristan Albatross, Wandering Albatross, Indian Yellow-nosed Albatross, Grey-headed Albatross, Sooty Albatross from Crozet Islands), IATTC (Antipodean Albatross) and WCPFC (Antipodean Albatross, Wandering Albatross). Overlaps with CCSBT were not quantified as this convention has no geographic limit of competence, but were likely to be high. Other RFMOs where Priority Populations spent >5% of their time were SIOFA (Wandering Albatross, Sooty Albatross, Indian Yellow-nosed Albatross, Grey-headed Albatross), SPRMFO (Antipodean Albatross, Wandering Albatross, Indian Yellow-nosed Albatross) and SEAFO (Wandering Albatross, Black-browed Albatross). CCAMLR waters form an important part (>8%) of the range of four priority populations and as such continued efforts to minimise bycatch are vital. The results can also be used to identify jurisdictions in which more than a threshold number of bird-years is spent by particular Priority Populations, or to enable breeding or nonbreeding range states that are CCAMLR Parties to prioritise management efforts or coordinate advocacy at RFMO meetings.