Atlas of the Patagonian Sea

Species

Integration - Albatrosses

Albatrosses

The Patagonian Sea is regularly used by at least 5 albatross species, and visited by other 5 or so species. The Black-browed albatross (Thalassarche melanophrys) is the only one that breeds in the area and is resident year-round. The Wandering albatross (Diomedea exulans), the Grey-headed albatross (Thalassarche chrysostoma) and the Light-mantled albatross (Phoebetria palpebrata), breed in adjacent islands like South Georgia and southern Chile. The Northern Royal albatross (Diomedea sanfordi) migrates from New Zealand to feed in the Patagonian Sea.

Several of these species are in decline and are included on the IUCN Red List as threatened species (critically endangered, endangered and vulnerable), largely due to incidental mortality in trawl and longline fisheries.