Abstract :
, , , seabirdsConservation of the high seas marine environment poses a significant challenge to policy-makers
and managers. Marine conservation efforts are often hindered by the lack of data and the difficulties in
addressing multiple, and typically conflicting uses. The majority of extant Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are
in coastal or tropical regions within national jurisdiction. Conservation of high seas MPAs has emerged on the
international agenda as a critical issue requiring the application of novel approaches, international cooperation
and political will. Knowledge and understanding of the marine environment and data on marine biodiversity
are all typically limited for the high seas, and the use of surrogates to assist in the identification of areas of
high conservation value is one possible mechanism to address and potentially overcome these limitations.
Drawing upon a database spanning more than 20 years and containing approximately 140 000 records of
seabird sightings at sea, this study assesses the potential use of seabirds as surrogates for marine biodiversity
in the Indian sector of the Southern Ocean. At-sea ranges, species diversity and the distributions of endangered
species may be appropriate selectors or filters to identify areas with high conservation values. Integrating
policy with science provides an appropriate mechanism to identify and prioritise MPAs in the Southern Ocean
