Westland Petrel Conservation Trust

The worlds only breeding grounds of the Westland Petrel are located immediately south of Punakaiki, on the West Coast of New Zealand's South Island. They forage predominantly over the Tasman Sea and southern Pacific Ocean as far as South America. Since the arrival of humans the petrels breeding population has declined to about 4,000 pairs. They continue to be exposed to many threats to their long term survival, both on their breeding grounds and their marine habitat. Major threats include: Predation by introduced mammals - cats, dogs rats and stoats; damage to their burrows and forested breeding grounds by goats, deer and possum; Bird strike caused by power lines strung across their flight paths; The disorienting effect of town lights and commercial fishing industry bycatch. The Trust proposes to initiate or support any activity that will improve the survival odds of the petrels, such as establishing predator control measures, public education, supporting research projects and promoting best practice for mitigating the bycatch problem.