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ID: 64456

Marine
Migratory

Diomedea sanfordi

Northern Royal Albatross

Bird

Cite this page API data access
Endangered

Taxonomy and naming

Current scientific name Diomedea sanfordi [64456]
Common name Northern Royal Albatross
Other names Diomedea epomophora sanfordi [82331], Diomedea sandfordi [89827]
Species author Murphy, 1917
  • Kingdom Animalia
  • Phylum Chordata
  • Class Aves
  • Order Procellariiformes
  • Family Diomedeidae

EPBC legal status and documents

EPBC listing status

Extinct Extinct in the wild Critically Endangered Endangered Vulnerable Conservation Dependent

Listed as Endangered as Diomedea sanfordi (Date effective 16-Jul-2000).

Listed Marine as Diomedea sanfordi.

Listed Migratory - EPBC Act as Diomedea sanfordi, Bonn as Diomedea sanfordi.

Conservation planning documents

  • Conservation advice: includes a statement about why the threatened species or ecological community is eligible to be listed under the EPBC Act, the main factors that are the cause of it being eligible for listing, as well as information about what can be done to stop its decline and support its recovery.
  • Recovery plan: includes a description of the threats to the listed threatened species or ecological community as well as actions needed to stop its decline and support its recovery. The Minister decides whether a threatened species or ecological community would benefit from the preparation of a recovery plan (in addition to existing Conservation Advice) drawing on advice from the Threatened Species Scientific Committee.
  • Protection statement: includes information about what must be protected to ensure the survival and recovery of the listed threatened species or ecological community in the wild. Protection statements are optional and the Minister for the Environment determines whether a protection statement is prepared for a listed threatened species or ecological community.
  • Threat abatement plan: includes information on research, management and other actions needed to reduce impacts of key threatening processes listed under the EPBC Act.
  • Wildlife conservation plan: includes information on measures required to protect species that are listed as migratory or marine under the EPBC Act.
  • Marine bioregional plan: includes information on key ecological features in the Commonwealth Marine Area as well as measures to protect marine species and habitats.
Conservation advice There is no approved Conservation Advice for this species.
Recovery plans Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (2022). National Recovery Plan for albatrosses and petrels. Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, Canberra. In effect under the EPBC Act from 1 Oct 2022. 2022
Recovery plan decision
Recovery Plan required, this species had a recovery plan in force at the time the legislation provided for the Minister to decide whether or not to have a recovery plan (19/2/2007).
Threat abatement plans Department of the Environment and Energy (2018). Threat Abatement Plan for the impacts of marine debris on the vertebrate wildlife of Australia's coasts and oceans (2018). Canberra, ACT: Commonwealth of Australia. In effect under the EPBC Act from 21 Jul 2018. 2018
Commonwealth of Australia (2018). Threat Abatement Plan for the incidental catch (or bycatch) of seabirds during oceanic longline fishing operations (2018). Canberra, ACT: Department of the Environment and Energy. In effect under the EPBC Act from 10 Nov 2018. 2018

Other Commonwealth documents

Listing advice There is no Listing Advice for this species.
Other EPBC Act plans Commonwealth Listing Advice for Injury and fatality to vertebrate marine life caused by ingestion of, or entanglement in, harmful marine debris (Threatened Species Scientific Committee, 2003). 2003
South-east marine region profile: A description of the ecosystems, conservation values and uses of the South-east Marine Region (Department of the Environment, 2015). 2015
Federal register of legislation Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (National Recovery Plan for albatrosses and petrels) Instrument 2022 (Commonwealth of Australia, 2022).
Recovery Plan
 2022
Threat Abatement Plan for the incidental catch (or bycatch) of seabirds during oceanic longline fishing operations (2018) (Commonwealth of Australia, 2018).
Threat Abatement Plan
 2018
Instrument under section 270B of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 to make a Threat Abatement Plan (Commonwealth of Australia, 2018).
Threat Abatement Plan
 2018
Instrument under section 209 of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 to update names on the list of migratory species (Commonwealth of Australia, 2018).
Migratory (name change)
 2018
Amendment to the lists of threatened species, threatened ecological communities and key threatening processes under sections 178, 181 and 183 of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth) (189) (02/05/2016) (Commonwealth of Australia, 2016).
Threatened (name change)
 2016
National Recovery Plan for Threatened Albatrosses and Giant Petrels 2011-2016 (Commonwealth of Australia, 2011).
Recovery Plan
 2011
Amendment to the list of threatened species under section 178 of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (72) (15/12/2008) (Commonwealth of Australia, 2008).
Threatened (name change)
 2008
Making of a recovery plan for Albatrosses and Giant Petrels under section 269A of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (15/9/2001) (Commonwealth of Australia, 2001).
Recovery Plan
 2001
Declaration under section 248 of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 - List of Marine Species (Commonwealth of Australia, 2000).
Marine
 2000
Declaration under s178, s181, and s183 of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 - List of threatened species, List of threatened ecological communities and List of threatening processes (Commonwealth of Australia, 2000).
Threatened
 2000
Instrument under section 209 of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 to correct a name on the list of migratory species (No. 1) 2018 (Commonwealth of Australia, 2018).
Migratory (name change)
 2018
Policy statements and guidelines National Light Pollution Guidelines for Wildlife Including Marine Turtles, Seabirds and Migratory Shorebirds (Department of the Environment and Energy, 2020). 2020
Survey Guidelines for Australia's Threatened Birds. EPBC Act survey guidelines 6.2 (Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (DEWHA), 2010). 2010
Information sheets Background Paper, Population Status and Threats to Albatrosses and Giant Petrels Listed as Threatened under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities (DSEWPaC), 2011). 2011

Status on other lists

State listing

SA

Endangered

Listed as Endangered (National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972 (South Australia): January 2020 list)

WA

Endangered

Listed as Endangered (Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 (Western Australia): July 2026 list)

Non-statutory listing

NGO

Endangered

Listed as Endangered (The Action Plan for Australian Birds 2020)

IUCN

Endangered

Listed as Endangered (Global Status: IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: 2026.1 list)

Non-government documents and websites

ACAP Species assessments: Northern Royal Albatross Diomedea sanfordi (Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels, 2009). 2009

Distribution

This distribution is part of the Species of National Environmental Significance dataset. Distributions are indicative and represent modelled habitat based on best available data at the time of mapping.

Superseded Commonwealth documents

Non-current Commonwealth documents

Environment Australia (2003). Information Sheet - Harmful marine Debris. Published by Environment Australia. 2003
Commonwealth of Australia (2014). NON-CURRENT Threat Abatement Plan 2014 for the incidental catch (or bycatch) of seabirds during oceanic longline fishing operations. Published by Commonwealth of Australia. In effect under the EPBC Act from 06 Sep 2014. 2014
Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities (2011). NON-CURRENT National recovery plan for threatened albatrosses and giant petrels 2011-2016. Published by Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities. In effect under the EPBC Act from 25 May 2011. Ceased to be in effect under the EPBC Act from 30 Sep 2022. 2011
Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (2009). NON-CURRENT Threat abatement plan for the impacts of marine debris on vertebrate marine life. Published by Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts. In effect under the EPBC Act from 01 Jul 2009. Ceased to be in effect under the EPBC Act from 21 Jul 2018. 2009
Australian Government Department of the Environment and Heritage (AGDEH) (2006). NON-CURRENT Threat Abatement Plan 2006 - Bycatch of Seabirds for the Incidental Catch (or By-catch) of Seabirds During Oceanic Longline Fishing Operations. Published by Australian Government Department of the Environment and Heritage (AGDEH). In effect under the EPBC Act from 18 Jul 2006. Ceased to be in effect under the EPBC Act from 06 Sep 2014. 2006
Environment Australia (EA) (2001). NON-CURRENT National Recovery Plan for Albatrosses and Giant-Petrels 2001-2005. Published by Environment Australia (EA). In effect under the EPBC Act from 15 Sep 2001. Ceased to be in effect under the EPBC Act from 24 May 2011. 2001
Environment Australia (1998). NON-CURRENT Threat Abatement Plan for the incidental catch (or by-catch) of seabirds during oceanic longline fishing operations. Published by Environment Australia. In effect under the EPBC Act from 16 Jul 2000. 1998

Caveat

SPRAT provides statutory information on threatened species and ecological communities, migratory species, marine species, and species and species products subject to international trade and commercial use protected under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (the EPBC Act). While reasonable efforts have been made to ensure the accuracy of information linked from external sources, the Commonwealth does not guarantee, and accepts no responsibility for, the accuracy, currency or completeness of this information. The Commonwealth is not liable for any loss or damage arising directly or indirectly from the use of, or reliance on, information contained in this database. The information is not intended to be a complete source of information on the matters it covers. Individuals and organisations should consider all available information, including information from other sources, when determining whether a referral, permit application or exemption under the EPBC Act may be required.

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