Birds
White-chinned Petrel
Procellaria aequinoctialis · also called shoemaker
Drawn readily to fishing vessels scattered across the Southern Ocean, a white-chinned petrel ranks among the seabird species most frequently killed as accidental bycatch on longline fishing hooks, its dark plumage marked only by a small patch of white feathers at the chin.
Overview
The white-chinned petrel, Procellaria aequinoctialis, is a large, dark seabird native to ocean habitat across the Southern Ocean, breeding on numerous sub-Antarctic islands. Its severe vulnerability to longline fishing bycatch, habit of readily following fishing vessels, and Vulnerable conservation status make it one of the more urgently conservation-relevant seabirds found anywhere in the Southern Hemisphere.
A habit that has become a hazard
The same scavenging instinct that once served the white-chinned petrel well around natural food sources has become one of its greatest liabilities in the modern era, drawing it toward fishing vessels and the baited hooks that now claim so many individuals each year.
Status
Vulnerable, with populations declining significantly due to mortality from longline fishing bycatch despite ongoing bycatch mitigation efforts.
White-chinned Petrel: common questions
Why is it called the white-chinned petrel?
This species has a small patch of white feathers at the base of the bill, a subtle marking that gives the species its common name despite the rest of its plumage being entirely dark.
Why is the white-chinned petrel considered Vulnerable?
This species is one of the seabird species most frequently killed as bycatch on longline fishing hooks, drawn to bait set during fishing operations across the Southern Ocean, a major driver of its population decline.
Why does the white-chinned petrel follow fishing boats?
This species readily follows fishing vessels across long stretches of open ocean, scavenging discarded fish waste and bait, a habit that unfortunately increases its exposure to accidental hooking and drowning.
Where does the white-chinned petrel breed?
This species typically breeds in burrows dug into soil on sub-Antarctic islands, often nesting in large colonies alongside other burrowing seabird species across the Southern Ocean.