Seabirds

Aotearoa New Zealand is the seabird capital of the world. Of the estimated 346 seabird species worldwide, 145 can be found here in New Zealand waters either as residents or visitors during their migratory journeys.

95 of these species breed in New Zealand and over a third of them are endemic, meaning they only breed here. New Zealand is also a hot spot for albatrosses, with nearly half of the world’s 22 albatross species breeding here.

But our seabirds are in trouble and need our help. About 90 percent of our seabirds are either at risk or threatened with extinction. Commercial and recreational fishing is considered the greatest threat to the survival of many species. Overfishing is causing a reduction of food sources for seabirds, such as fish, crustaceans and squid. Seabirds are also vulnerable to fishing interactions, such as accidently being caught or entangled in fishing gear, or struck by fishing cables or vessels. Other threats include loss of habitat, introduced predators, plastic pollution and climate change.

WWF is working with government, environmental groups, tangata whenua, the fishing industry, and communities to better protect our seabirds, including from the impacts of fishing.

WWF-New Zealand helped establish, and continues to be an active member of Southern Seabird Solutions.

The charitable trust works with commercial and recreational fishers, associated agencies and industry to reduce harm to New Zealand seabirds from fishing.  They also deliver projects that contribute to reducing the effects of fishing on seabirds in fisheries in the Southern Hemisphere.

© Kath Walker/DOC

The Antipodean Albatross

The Antipodean albatross is New Zealand's most endangered albatross. This majestic seabird is nationally critical and could be extinct by 2050 if we don’t take action.

There has been a significant and dramatic decline in their population that has been happening over the last twenty years. Each death puts this wide-ranging and slow breeding species further at risk. Since 2005 we have lost roughly 60% of their population.  

The Antipodean albatross is particularly vulnerable to being accidently caught by longline fishing vessels. There are mitigation measures that can significantly reduce seabird bycatch, but there are still major issues with non-compliance, lack of understanding about the issue, and ineffective or faulty equipment and techniques.

Surface longline vessels have only required to do two out of the three best practice mitigation measures. WWF-New Zealand has long advocated for all three bycatch measures to be deployed at the same time. 

We are pleased that the Government has confirmed that from 1 October 2024 all commercial fishers using surface longline fishing methods will be required to either use special hook shielding devices or implement all three of the key seabird bycatch mitigation measures at the same time.

Read more
© Lou Sanson

Penguins

Nine of the world’s 18 penguin species breed in New Zealand, including the hoiho (yellow eyed), tawaki (Fiordland crested) and kororā (little penguin) on the mainland.

Around the world penguin populations are facing threats. Some, like the hoiho are already endangered. Other species that were once common, like the little penguin, are now declining.

Threats to penguins include habitat loss, introduced predators, pollution, disease, climate change and reduced food availability due to commercial fishing.

Our work with Penguins

WWF-New Zealand supports penguin conservation efforts through our Community Conservation Fund, providing financial support to community conservation and environmental education projects across New Zealand.

Kororā

We are supporting the Waiheke Island Native Bird Rescue Charitable Trust and their Whakarauora Kororā - little penguin rehabilitation project, which aims to protect, enhance and restore the island’s kororā populations. Particularly through rescue, rehabilitation, and release back to the wild. They will also be microchipping the kororā to monitor the success of the reintroduced penguins and carry out community outreach to help educate and inspire a love and respect for native wildlife like the little penguin.

We support the Muriwai Environmental Action Community Trust and their Muriwai penguin project, which aims to improve the number of eggs laid and chicks surviving and fledging on the west coast of Auckland. Their work includes nest box building and deployment, establishing an automated monitoring system,  predator trapping, community education, and penguin research and expert consultation.

We also support the Western Bay Wildlife Trust and their Mauao kororā reproduction monitoring project, which aims to provide ongoing protection and monitoring of kororā colonies affected by the Rena Oil Spill in 2011. The work includes identifying suitable sites for new nesting boxes in higher grounds, habitat restoration and monitoring breeding success and population trends.   

Hoiho

We support the Yellow-eyed Penguin Trust and their Hoiho recovery project, which aims to protect and conserve the hoiho populations in Otago and Southland. The work we are supporting involves predator control, planting trees and shrubs to improve habitats, providing nesting opportunities, and advocating for penguin conservation. They also carry out monitoring and research on the impacts on the population.

Little penguins recovering in their enclosure