Wildlife

Seabird Bycatch in Longline Fisheries

Longline fishing kills hundreds of thousands of seabirds annually, including endangered albatrosses, as birds dive for baited hooks and drown.

Key Facts

An estimated 300,000 seabirds are killed as bycatch annually
19 of 22 albatross species are threatened with extinction
South Africa, Japan, and Taiwan are major sources of seabird bycatch
Simple mitigation measures can reduce seabird bycatch by over 95%
The Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels coordinates international action

Welfare Considerations

Seabirds that take baited hooks are dragged underwater and drown, a prolonged and distressing death. Surviving birds that escape entanglement may suffer wing injuries that prevent flight and foraging. Bycatch disproportionately affects breeding adults, with cascading population effects because albatrosses breed slowly with just one chick every two years. This makes population recovery slow even when bycatch rates fall.

What You Can Do

Choose seafood certified by the Marine Stewardship Council with seabird bycatch standards
Support campaigns for mandatory bycatch mitigation on all longline vessels
Advocate for expansion of marine protected areas covering key seabird foraging zones
Donate to organizations like BirdLife International working on seabird bycatch