Wildlife Conservation

Wild Albatross Incidental Catch Long-Lines

Seabird bycatch on longline fishing vessels represents one of the most significant preventable sources of seabird mortality globally.

Key Facts

An estimated 320000 seabirds including 100000 albatrosses are killed annually as bycatch
Longlines set at night with bird-scaring lines dramatically reduce seabird capture
Many longline fisheries have achieved near-zero seabird bycatch with simple measures
Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels coordinates international action

Welfare Considerations

Albatrosses drowned on longline hooks face a rapid but violent death from drowning after being dragged underwater by the line. The scale of longline bycatch represents one of the most significant solvable welfare problems in wild animal management. The availability of simple and inexpensive solutions including night setting, tori lines, and hook weighting makes the continued high bycatch rate an ethical failure.

What You Can Do

Choose seafood certified by fisheries with near-zero seabird bycatch
Support mandatory bird scaring line requirements for all longline fisheries
Donate to organizations working on albatross bycatch reduction
Advocate for full adoption of best-practice bycatch mitigation measures