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Published VersionCC BY-NC-ND V4.0, Open Access
Journal article
Mesoscale ocean dynamics structure fisheries interaction risk for an endangered seabird
Biological Conservation, Vol.313, pp.1-13
2026
Appears in UniSC Supported Open Access Outputs
Abstract
Fisheries bycatch poses a major threat to marine predators and remains a global challenge to sustainable fisheries. Conservation and management strategies can be informed by identifying zones of overlap between fishing effort and threatened, endangered or protected species, or existing bycatch hotspots. However, few studies have incorporated ocean data and the age and sex classes of seabirds into these assessments. Here, we examined the environmental conditions that drive fisheries interaction risk for the endangered Antipodean albatross (Diomedea antipodensis antipodensis). Specifically, we assessed interaction risk by combining satellite-tracking data from 192 individuals across age and sex classes of all life stages with data from the Automatic Identification System (AIS) vessel-tracking program. The integration of satellite-tracking and oceanographic data facilitated assessment of how physical ocean features — such as recurring thermal fronts, turbulent ocean mixing, and swirling eddies — shaped high-risk interaction zones. Hotspots of interaction risk spanned from 25°S to 40°S and varied seasonally. Overall, interaction risk was significantly higher during May–August and among juveniles. Over broad climatological scales, the interaction risk was greatest where thermal fronts occur frequently. At finer scales, interaction risk was intensified in association with aggregative Lagrangian Coherent Structures. These findings suggest that Regional Fisheries Management Organisations could take immediate action, such as extending current bycatch mitigation measures to include fishing grounds between 25 and 30°S, to cover the hotspots for juvenile and female seasonally. Incorporating measures of mesoscale ocean dynamics in delineating zones of interaction risk for species of conservation concern provides a potential step forward for dynamic threat management.
Details
- Title
- Mesoscale ocean dynamics structure fisheries interaction risk for an endangered seabird
- Authors
- Ho Fung Wong (Corresponding Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Science, Technology and EngineeringDavid Schoeman - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Science, Technology and EngineeringPeter I. Miller - Plymouth Marine LaboratoryLily Bentley - The University of QueenslandLuke Halpin - Charles Sturt UniversityJohannes H. Fischer - Department of ConservationIgor Debski - Department of ConservationSamhita Bose - Department of ConservationGraeme Elliott - Department of ConservationKath Walker - Department of ConservationKylie L. Scales - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Science, Technology and Engineering
- Publication details
- Biological Conservation, Vol.313, pp.1-13
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Date published
- 2026
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.biocon.2025.111574
- ISSN
- 1873-2917; 0006-3207
- Copyright note
- © 2025 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/bync-nd/4.0/).
- Data Availability
- Data will be made available on request.
- Organisation Unit
- School of Science, Technology and Engineering
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 991177625102621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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