Southern Ocean Longline Fleets Catch at Least 30,000 Seabirds a Year, FAO Study Estimates

An international assessment supported by FAO examined 10 billion fishing hooks and almost 10,000 observed seabird captures to estimate the scale of accidental catches by Southern Hemisphere pelagic longline fleets. The study estimates that at least 30,000 seabirds are caught annually in the fisheries assessed.

Why this matters

The research identified risk hotspots around the Tasman Sea, southern Indian Ocean and southeast Atlantic. It combined observer reports and spatial information on seabird populations; it does not represent a count of every fishing fleet in the world. Particular albatross species are vulnerable because their populations recover slowly.

The limits and what happens next

The practical implications involve setting lines where birds cannot reach hooks, using bird-scaring lines and other mitigation, and improving onboard or electronic monitoring. Fishing managers can prioritize higher-risk areas, but enforcement and fleet adoption will determine the actual reduction in bycatch.

Original source

Primary source and original publication: https://www.fao.org/newsroom/detail/study-gives-fresh-impetus-to-reduce-seabird-bycatch-in-southern-hemisphere-fisheries/en