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Black Petrel
Action Group
On Friday 16th September 2011 the Great Barrier Island
Trust helped to set up a meeting in Auckland, the attendees at which
have now formed the Black Petrel Action Group. This was the result of
the high level of concern raised by the publication of the Ministry of
Fisheries Seabird Risk Assessment which identifies the Black Petrel as
the most at risk species from commercial fishing in New Zealand.
A letter was
sent to the Ministers of Fisheries and Conservation on 28 October
outlining 6 areas on which we seek a response. A number of other
activities are planned to raise the profile of black petrel, which
without intervention are in serious danger of becoming extinct in our
lifetime.
Black petrels nest mainly on Great Barrier
on the high ridges around Mt Hobson/Hirakimata. They spend the winter in
the Pacific, their incredible range extending from the east coast of
Australia as far as waters off Peru. In October they return to breed,
with eggs laid from December and chick appearing from February. Petrels
are often seen in the Hauraki Gulf in summer and if an adult bird is
killed by longlines or recreational fishers, chances are two birds will
die as the chick on the nest will not survive with just one parent. Only
about 1300 pairs and 1000 prebreeders are thought to be on Mt Hobson
each summer, which apart from a small colony on Little Barrer, is the
only place in the world this bird breeds.
For background information on this fascinating bird please
read
Black Petrel Essentials.
A full list of research sources is appended to this
document.
Black Petrel Action Group Members:
Birdlife International and Forest & Bird (Contact: Karen Baird Birdlife
International Global Seabird Programme Pacific Coordinator)
Ngati Rehua Trust Board (Chairperson: Rawiri Wharemate)
Great Barrier Island Charitable Trust (Contact: Kate Waterhouse,
Trustee)
WWF-NZ (Contact: Victoria Travers, Programme Leader Auckland Marine
Matters)
Little Barrier Island (Hauturu) Supporters Trust (Contact: Dr Matt
Rayner, Trustee)
Wildlife Management International (Contact: Elizabeth Bell)
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