Who looks after Macquarie Island?
Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service
Management of a Nature Reserve and World Heritage Area
Macquarie Island Nature Reserve is part of Tasmania and has been managed by the Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service (part of the Government of the State of Tasmania) since the early 1970s. It was first protected in 1933 as a wildlife sanctuary and the reserve status and size has been upgraded several times since. The nature reserve now includes Macquarie Island, the adjacent islets of Judge and Clerk and Bishop and Clerk, and all surrounding waters out to three nautical miles.
Two rangers live on the island during deployments that generally last for 12 months. The rangers are responsible for managing and protecting the natural and heritage values of the reserve, including important biosecurity and wildlife monitoring work. They also manage educational tourism visits to the island during summer months – a third ranger is sometimes deployed to assist during summer. Rangers spend a lot of time undertaking field work and living at small field huts that are scattered around the island. There are no roads or vehicle access so rangers need to walk everywhere and carry everything they need. Rangers are assisted by specialists and scientists who provide advice about the management and monitoring of natural and heritage values at Macquarie Island.
The most significant conservation management success in recent years was the Macquarie Island Pest Eradication Project, an ambitious eradication of rabbits and rodents which was declared a success in 2014. The subsequent ecological recovery across the island has been rapid.
Australian Antarctic Division and research station
Operation of the longest continuously operating Australian station in the sub-Antarctic or Antarctica
The Australian Antarctic Division (part of the Australian Government) operates the station on the narrow windswept isthmus at the northern end of the island. It is the longest continuously operating Australian station in the sub-Antarctic or Antarctic. The Australian Antarctic Division provides the operational, safety and logistical support for all personnel working on the island, including rangers and scientists.
Bureau of Meteorology staff are also based at the station and provide frequent weather observations and continuing records that commenced in 1948 when the station was established. Macquarie Island is a key site for monitoring changes in atmospheric CO2, ozone, and helping to predict changes to local and global climate.
International recognition and protection
Conventions and agreements
Macquarie Island World Heritage Area was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1997. It includes the entire nature reserve, as well as Australian waters out to twelve nautical miles. While the day-to-day management of the area is the responsibility of the Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service, the Australian Government is responsible for administering Australia’s international obligations under the World Heritage Convention. This includes providing reports to the World Heritage Committee about the state of conservation of inscribed properties.
Another key international agreement that applies to Macquarie Island is the Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels (ACAP). Australia is a signatory to this multilateral agreement which seeks to conserve listed albatrosses and petrels by coordinating international activities to mitigate known threats to their populations. With Macquarie Island currently home to breeding populations of seven species covered by ACAP, it is a critical location for implementing Australia’s responsibilities under the agreement.
Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) have year-round monitoring at Macquarie Island to help detect evidence of nuclear explosions as part of an international monitoring network in support of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty.