Non-Target Species Management for the Macquarie Island Pest Eradication Project

The Macquarie Island Pest Eradication Project (MIPEP) successfully mitigated non-target species impacts while progressing toward eradicating invasive rodents and European rabbits. Initial baiting in 2010, delayed by adverse weather, resulted in non-target mortality across six seabird and duck species, prompting a review that confirmed long-term ecosystem benefits despite short-term risks. Enhanced mitigation strategies—including the release of Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease Virus to reduce rabbit populations and increased carcass removal efforts—were implemented before resuming baiting in 2011. Monitoring during subsequent operations revealed no significant population-level impacts on seabirds, with only minor transitory effects observed in king penguin colonies and no adverse effects on wandering albatross chicks or marine mammals. The project demonstrates that targeted pest eradication can be achieved with minimal lasting harm to non-target species when adaptive mitigation measures are applied.

Springer, K., & Carmichael, N. (2012). Non-Target Species Management for the Macquarie Island Pest Eradication Project. Proceedings of the Vertebrate Pest Conference, 25. https://doi.org/10.5070/v425110441