Seabird Bycatch in Longline and Net Fisheries

Hundreds of thousands of seabirds are killed annually as bycatch in longline and net fisheries, with targeted mitigation measures dramatically reducing mortality.

Key Facts

An estimated 300,000 seabirds are killed annually as longline bycatch including 100,000 albatrosses
Simple mitigation measures reduce seabird bycatch by over 90% on longline vessels
Bird-scaring lines, weighted branch lines and night setting are among the most effective measures
Gillnet bycatch of diving seabirds including divers and auks causes significant UK mortality
ACAP coordinates international conservation action for albatrosses and petrels threatened by bycatch

Welfare Considerations

Seabird bycatch causes acute deaths through drowning or hooking of millions of individuals annually across all oceans. The welfare impact extends beyond mortality to include entanglement stress and injury in survivors. Albatross populations are declining across multiple species directly due to longline bycatch on the feeding grounds where they spend most of their year. The welfare tragedy of seabird bycatch is its preventability: simple, inexpensive measures reduce bycatch by up to 95% yet adoption remains incomplete due to lack of regulatory requirements and enforcement.

What You Can Do

Choose seafood certified to schemes requiring seabird bycatch mitigation measures on all vessels
Support ACAP and BirdLife International campaigns for mandatory bycatch mitigation globally
Advocate for seabird bycatch monitoring and reporting requirements in all fishery management plans
Engage with retailer and restaurant seafood sourcing policies to require bycatch mitigation