Marine Animals

Wild Seabird Longline Bycatch

Seabirds diving for fish on longlines are hooked and drowned, with albatrosses being the most severely impacted group.

Key Facts

An estimated 100,000 seabirds are killed by longlines annually
19 of 22 albatross species are threatened with extinction in part due to bycatch
Weighted lines, bird-scaring streamers, and night setting dramatically reduce bycatch
Some fisheries have achieved near-zero seabird bycatch through gear modifications

Welfare Considerations

Seabird longline drowning is a significant welfare problem causing suffocation and drowning deaths. Birds hooked and dragged underwater experience prolonged struggling and oxygen deprivation. Simple technical fixes exist and have been demonstrated to be effective.

What You Can Do

Support fisheries certification schemes that require seabird bycatch mitigation
Advocate for mandatory bird-scaring devices on longline vessels
Choose seafood from fisheries with verified low seabird bycatch rates
Donate to seabird conservation organizations working on longline bycatch