The distribution of breeding Sooty Albatrosses from the three most important breeding sites: Gough, Tristan and the Prince Edward Islands

Sooty Albatrosses (Phoebetria fusca), classified as Endangered, exhibit distinct foraging patterns depending on their breeding sites. Tracking data from Gough Island, Tristan da Cunha, and the Prince Edward Islands reveal that birds from Marion Island (Prince Edwards) range farther north despite being the most southerly breeding site. Birds from Tristan-Gough concentrate around the Sub-Antarctic Front (SAF) in the southern Atlantic Ocean, while Marion birds associate with both the SAF and the Sub-Tropical Front (STF) in the southern Indian Ocean. This study identifies critical foraging areas for 80% of breeding Sooty Albatrosses during incubation and brood-guard periods, highlighting potential risks from tuna long-line fishing gear. Birds from Tristan da Cunha and Gough Island show greater overlap with fishing effort, suggesting higher bycatch mortality risk in the Atlantic fishery.

Schoombie, S., Dilley, B. J., Davies, D., Glass, T., & Ryan, P. G. (2017). The distribution of breeding Sooty Albatrosses from the three most important breeding sites: Gough, Tristan and the Prince Edward Islands. Emu - Austral Ornithology, 117(2), 160–169. https://doi.org/10.1080/01584197.2017.1289804