Fisheries Infosite

 
 
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Westland petrel (XWP)
Scientific name
Procellaria westlandica
Westland petrels have a black head, body and wings. The wingspan can reach 1.4 metres.

Westland petrels are endemic to New Zealand, and travel to eastern Australia and South America. Breeding only occurs on the West Coast of the South Island near Punakaiki, where it nests in burrows in the forest floor.

Westland petrels are considered ‘Range restricted’ by the Department of Conservation and ‘Vulnerable’ by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Ministry of Fisheries research indicates that there are may be 4,000 breeding pairs.


Westland petrel feeds mainly on fish and squid, and is known to use offal for a significant part of its diet.

Westland petrels are a bycatch species in New Zealand and Australia tuna fisheries. They are also known to follow trawlers and can be caught in trawl gear.

International Union for Conservation of nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) Red list

New Zealand Threat Classification System list

DOC threat status: 7 Range restricted
IUCN listing: Vulnerable
Average maturity age: 12
Maximum age:
Adult survival average: 92.5
Litter: 1
Reproduction frequency
(per year):		 1
Demographic data source: Age Mat from Hamer et al 2000, Survival of 72.6 to 96.5% measured in Waugh et al 2003
Population: 2000
Population source: ACAP tables
Distribution

5 items
Category Environmental impacts
Effects on other species
Seabird interactions (and their accidental capture) with bottom longline fishing vessels details
Effects on other species
Seabird interactions (and their accidental capture) with surface longline fishing vessels details
Effects on other species
Seabird interactions with inshore trawlers. details
Effects on other species
Seabird interactions with deepwater (offshore) trawlers details
Effects on other species
Seabird interactions with scampi trawlers. details