Marine Animals

Seabird Bycatch in Longline Fisheries

Albatrosses and other seabirds are drowned on longline hooks at rates that threaten species survival, despite effective mitigation measures being available.

Key Facts

Over 300,000 seabirds are killed by longlines annually
18 of 22 albatross species are threatened largely due to bycatch
Bird-scaring lines, underwater bait setting, and night setting reduce bycatch by 90%+
Many fisheries resist adoption of mitigation due to perceived costs

Welfare Considerations

Hooked seabirds drown after struggling on lines for minutes to hours. Birds that escape the hook may survive with bill injuries that prevent foraging. Albatrosses are slow-reproducing birds that cannot replace losses rapidly, making even small bycatch levels population-threatening.

What You Can Do

Choose fish certified by programs requiring seabird bycatch mitigation
Support international agreements mandating mitigation gear on all longline vessels
Advocate for consumer pressure on tuna brands regarding their bycatch records
Donate to BirdLife International programs supporting fisher transitions to safer gear