In early-April 2024, the Sable Shearwater (formerly known as the Flesh-footed Shearwater) was added to Appendix II of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species (CMS; also known as the Bonn Convention).

This listing recognises seabirds, sharks, whales and other migratory species that have an “unfavourable conservation status” (eg declining population) and would benefit from international cooperation.

In the case of the Sable Shearwater, a number of their key breeding sites are in decline, and many of the threats faced by the birds require cross-border cooperation to manage (eg bycatch in commercial fisheries, ocean pollution).

The species is also being considered for listing under ACAP (Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels).

This article appeared in The Lord Howe Island Signal, 30 April 2026.