The effects of commercial fishing, tourism and climate change on magellanic penguin populations in Chile, Argentina and the Falkland Islands

Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) only breed in Chile, Argentina and the Falkland Islands. Our research compares the status of colonies in each of these countries. On Magdalena Island in Chile, an increase from 59,000 pairs in 2000/01 to 63,000 pairs in 2008/2009, was reversed by a severe drought in 2009, causing a decline to 43,000 pairs by 2018/19. This decline goes against the regional trend. The neighbouring colony on Contramaestra Island was not affected by the drought and has increased from 400 pairs in 1990/91 to 26,000 pairs by 2019/20. Argentina’s second largest colony at Cabo Vírgenes has increased from 89,000 pairs in 1987/88 to 146,000 pairs in 2019/20. Other colonies in southern Argentina are stable or increasing. Two colonies in Chubut have declined due to commercial fishing and oil pollution. Overall populations in Chile and Argentina remain healthy and stable. Populations in the Falkland Islands have declined by 92% from 1,300,000 pairs in 1989/90, to 100,000 pairs in 2019/20, following the establishment of the Falkland Islands Government’s commercial fishing industry in 1988. Penguins show slightly higher breeding success in the presence of tourism. Tourists scare away predators that would steal eggs and chicks from the penguins.