How to resolve AdBlock issue? Expeditioners to be withdrawn from Antarctic Macquarie Island research station
THE Australian Government’s Antarctic Division has made the difficult decision to temporarily withdraw staff from Macquarie Island research station due to the psychosocial risk to expeditioners posed by a potential H5 avian influenza (bird flu) outbreak on the remote island.
The research station, where 24 expeditioners currently live and work, was established on the Southern Ocean island about 1,500km south-east of Tasmania in 1948.
While the risk to humans remains low, a significant mortality event during the upcoming seal breeding season could expose expeditioners to prolonged psychological stress and other workplace impacts.
The health, safety and wellbeing of expeditioners is the highest priority for the Australian Antarctic Division, making their withdrawal from Macquarie Island a necessary precaution. Sending a ship to extract our staff from Macquarie Island is a significant undertaking. An unplanned evacuation could take months or disrupt all our other stations. This is why we are taking a planned and deliberate approach ahead of a wildlife mortality event.
The situation at Macquarie Island is different to Australia’s Antarctic stations, where stringent H5 bird flu preparations can manage risks for expeditioners.
While H5 bird flu has not yet been detected on the island, it is home to large elephant seal populations close to station buildings – and expert assessments predict a high likelihood of a significant mortality event during the upcoming breeding season.
Elephant seals have proved particularly susceptible to H5 bird flu, with pup mortality rates of more than 90 per cent discovered in some colonies in the sub-Antarctic external territory of Heard Island and McDonald Islands.
Australia’s icebreaking research and supply vessel, RSV Nuyina, will travel to the island in early October to retrieve personnel and essential cargo.
The Australian Antarctic Division is currently working through steps to mitigate impacts for Australia's international monitoring obligations, wildlife monitoring and infrastructure, and to best prepare the station for temporary closure.
Overseas experience shows few direct actions can be taken to mitigate the impacts of H5 bird flu on native species. Owing to the island’s remoteness and harsh conditions, active control measures for wildlife are not planned at this stage.
Fortunately, wildlife on Macquarie Island exists in a largely undisturbed state.
The territory is free of most invasive species that threaten native species and ecosystems commonly found in mainland Australia.
This follows significant investment and effort in previous years to eradicate rabbits, rats and mice, which has boosted resilience and increased chances of recovery among island seals.
Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) Deputy Secretary Sean Sullivan said,
“This is an unusual measure, but is the most appropriate course of action, based on our assessments of risk, and operational realities.
“Our first priority is the health and safety of our expeditioners. While the risk to humans of H5 bird flu is considered low, we can’t ignore the psychosocial risks of living near potentially large numbers of affected animals," Mr Sullivan said. "Our expeditioners already live and work in one of the world’s most remote and challenging environments. It is important that we minimise any additional risks that could affect the wellbeing of our people and the safe operation of our stations.
“We’ve seen what this disease can do, based on our experience at Heard Island and McDonald Islands. Given the risks to our expeditioners, and to minimise risks across the whole Antarctic Program, we consider it necessary to make this decision in advance of any significant wildlife mortality event," Mr Sullivan said.
“Macquarie Island is unique in that thousands of elephant seal pups are born close to the station every spring. No other Australian Antarctic station is in this position, and there are no elephant seal colonies on mainland Australia.
“The Australian Antarctic Division is exploring options for monitoring the situation on Macquarie Island, with a view to returning expeditioners to the station in coming seasons," Mr Sullivan said.
“We remain committed to maintaining a long-term presence on Macquarie Island.”
The research station, where 24 expeditioners currently live and work, was established on the Southern Ocean island about 1,500km south-east of Tasmania in 1948.
While the risk to humans remains low, a significant mortality event during the upcoming seal breeding season could expose expeditioners to prolonged psychological stress and other workplace impacts.
The health, safety and wellbeing of expeditioners is the highest priority for the Australian Antarctic Division, making their withdrawal from Macquarie Island a necessary precaution. Sending a ship to extract our staff from Macquarie Island is a significant undertaking. An unplanned evacuation could take months or disrupt all our other stations. This is why we are taking a planned and deliberate approach ahead of a wildlife mortality event.
The situation at Macquarie Island is different to Australia’s Antarctic stations, where stringent H5 bird flu preparations can manage risks for expeditioners.
While H5 bird flu has not yet been detected on the island, it is home to large elephant seal populations close to station buildings – and expert assessments predict a high likelihood of a significant mortality event during the upcoming breeding season.
Elephant seals have proved particularly susceptible to H5 bird flu, with pup mortality rates of more than 90 per cent discovered in some colonies in the sub-Antarctic external territory of Heard Island and McDonald Islands.
Australia’s icebreaking research and supply vessel, RSV Nuyina, will travel to the island in early October to retrieve personnel and essential cargo.
The Australian Antarctic Division is currently working through steps to mitigate impacts for Australia's international monitoring obligations, wildlife monitoring and infrastructure, and to best prepare the station for temporary closure.
Overseas experience shows few direct actions can be taken to mitigate the impacts of H5 bird flu on native species. Owing to the island’s remoteness and harsh conditions, active control measures for wildlife are not planned at this stage.
Fortunately, wildlife on Macquarie Island exists in a largely undisturbed state.
The territory is free of most invasive species that threaten native species and ecosystems commonly found in mainland Australia.
This follows significant investment and effort in previous years to eradicate rabbits, rats and mice, which has boosted resilience and increased chances of recovery among island seals.
Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) Deputy Secretary Sean Sullivan said,
“This is an unusual measure, but is the most appropriate course of action, based on our assessments of risk, and operational realities.
“Our first priority is the health and safety of our expeditioners. While the risk to humans of H5 bird flu is considered low, we can’t ignore the psychosocial risks of living near potentially large numbers of affected animals," Mr Sullivan said. "Our expeditioners already live and work in one of the world’s most remote and challenging environments. It is important that we minimise any additional risks that could affect the wellbeing of our people and the safe operation of our stations.
“We’ve seen what this disease can do, based on our experience at Heard Island and McDonald Islands. Given the risks to our expeditioners, and to minimise risks across the whole Antarctic Program, we consider it necessary to make this decision in advance of any significant wildlife mortality event," Mr Sullivan said.
“Macquarie Island is unique in that thousands of elephant seal pups are born close to the station every spring. No other Australian Antarctic station is in this position, and there are no elephant seal colonies on mainland Australia.
“The Australian Antarctic Division is exploring options for monitoring the situation on Macquarie Island, with a view to returning expeditioners to the station in coming seasons," Mr Sullivan said.
“We remain committed to maintaining a long-term presence on Macquarie Island.”
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