Australia pulls staff from Macquarie Island over seal death fears

Topic:Antarctic Research

In short:

The Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) will temporarily take its staff off Macquarie Island in the Southern Ocean because of worries about bird flu.

The island has no virus now, but AAD fears staff could face strong mental stress if many animals die.

What's next?

Australia’s icebreaker RSV Nuyina will sail to the island in October to bring staff home before the peak elephant seal breeding time.

The Australian Antarctic Division will start a mission to bring staff off Macquarie Island because of mental‑health risk from a possible bird‑flu outbreak.

The sub‑Antarctic island, 1,500 km south‑east of Hobart, is a World Heritage wildlife sanctuary with up to 4 million seabirds and 100,000 seals.

The island is now free of the deadly H5 bird‑flu strain.

If the virus arrives, up to 90 % of baby elephant seals could die, as on Heard Island last summer when 13,000 pups died from bird flu.

The Australian government says exposing staff to such sad scenes is unacceptable.

The station sits in the middle of a southern elephant seal population. (Supplied: AAD)

"We have made the hard choice to pull staff back," federal environment deputy secretary Sean Sullivan told the ABC.

"We are doing this mainly because of the mental‑health risks staff would face if they stayed during a mass death event."

Australia’s research station on Macquarie Island sits just metres from a colony of about 2,500 elephant seals.

A colony of about 2,500 seals lives on the island, which has not yet been hit by the virus. (Supplied: AAD/Jarrod Hodgson)

Mr Sullivan said it would be very upsetting for staff to live next to a large wildlife death event if an outbreak occurs.

"You can picture how it would affect people being stuck at the base."

"Clearly, being near a mass death event and the related air‑quality problems would have long‑term effects on staff."

Expeditioners live and work next to seals and other wildlife on the island. (Supplied: AAD/Kerry Steinberner)

Icebreaker to be deployed for retrieval mission

The station currently houses 24 expeditioners who began a year‑long stay in May.

Now they will be taken off in just over a month, just before the seal breeding peak when experts warn a big death event is most likely.

The Nuyina will visit Macquarie Island in October to bring the expeditioners home. (Supplied: AAD Simon Payne)

"I know staff will be disappointed," Mr Sullivan said.

"It is a special place and people are coming into summer when more work can be done, so staff will be very disappointed."

Australia’s icebreaker RSV Nuyina, now in Singapore for routine work, is expected to reach the island in early October to pick up the team.

"We are making this decision because staff safety is our top priority."

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Topic:Antarctic Research

Removing staff in October also avoids the need for an emergency evacuation during the busy summer when the Nuyina must resupply Antarctic bases.

"We have a short window to limit impact on our wider season plan," Mr Sullivan said.

There is a limited window for the Nuyina to do the mission without affecting other Antarctic work. (AAD)

Australia’s Antarctic stations not affected

It is still unknown when expeditioners can return to Macquarie Island.

Over the next month, plans will be made to set up live cameras and drones so staff in Australia can watch for any bird‑flu signs after the team leaves.

"The Australian Antarctic Division is looking at ways to monitor Macquarie Island, hoping to bring staff back in future seasons," Mr Sullivan said.

The island also hosts gentoo penguins. (Supplied: Jason Munday/AAD)

Mr Sullivan said Australia’s three stations on the Antarctic continent do not have the same risk, and there are no plans to pull staff from those bases.

"Macquarie Island is unique," Mr Sullivan said.

"The station sits inside a seal colony, so the danger is right at the front door.

That is not the case for the other Antarctic stations."

Withdrawal to delay $370 m station rebuild

Australia has kept a permanent, year‑round presence on Macquarie Island since 1948.

Many agencies use the research station, including the Bureau of Meteorology, Geoscience Australia and the Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service.

The death of seals and other wildlife at staff doors would be shocking and create hazards, Mr Sullivan said. (Supplied: AAD)

The Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) also monitors the island for the Comprehensive Nuclear‑Test‑Ban Treaty.

"The Australian Antarctic Division is working on steps to meet our international monitoring duties, wildlife checks and infrastructure needs, and to prepare the station for a temporary shutdown," the AAD said.

The Australian government is currently updating the old facilities on the island.

About $370 million has been set aside over nine years for a new station that will avoid flood or landslip risks from earthquakes.

"The government has made a big decision to rebuild Macquarie Island," Mr Sullivan said.

"This may slow things down a bit, but it does not change the decision to rebuild the station."

Header image: Australia has kept a year‑round presence on Macquarie Island since 1948. (Supplied: AAD/Pete Harmsen)

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