Albatrosses are among the most threatened bird families globally. Longline bycatch drowning and island predators are the primary welfare and conservation threats they face.
Albatrosses drowned as longline bycatch represent acute welfare harm to long-lived, socially complex birds that form lifelong partnerships. The death of one partner leaves a surviving mate that may spend years attempting to attract a new partner — a period of social deprivation. Chicks fed plastic by parents die from internal obstruction and starvation — a prolonged death over days. Island predators (rats, mice, cats) kill eggs and chicks, disrupting colony success that parents have invested months to achieve. Simple fishing gear modifications including tori lines, offal management, and weighted hooks have reduced albatross bycatch by over 80% in South Georgia — demonstrating that effective solutions exist and need only be adopted.