Wild Seabird Bycatch and Fishing Gear Reform

How seabird bycatch in fishing threatens populations and what gear modifications protect welfare.

Key Facts

An estimated 320,000 seabirds are killed as bycatch in fishing gear each year globally
Albatrosses and petrels are most affected by longline bycatch, with many species on the IUCN Red List
Tori lines that scare birds away from baited hooks during setting reduce albatross bycatch by over 90%
Setting longlines at night when most target seabirds are inactive significantly reduces bycatch
Weighted hooks that sink faster before birds can reach them reduce surface bycatch during longline setting
The Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels promotes international bycatch reduction

Welfare Considerations

Seabird bycatch welfare involves both the acute suffering of individual birds drowning entangled in gear and the conservation impact on species whose low reproductive rates make population recovery from bycatch mortality very slow. The welfare and conservation dimensions are inseparable when annual bycatch mortality exceeds natural replacement rates. The particularly encouraging aspect of seabird bycatch is that effective mitigation measures exist and work — tori lines, night setting, and weighted hooks — and can be mandated through fisheries regulations with minimal economic impact on target catches. The barrier is regulatory will and enforcement rather than technical feasibility.

What You Can Do

Choose seafood from fisheries certified with documented seabird bycatch mitigation requirements
Support ACAP and BirdLife International efforts on seabird bycatch reduction
Advocate for mandatory bycatch mitigation measures in national fisheries regulations
Donate to organizations monitoring seabird populations and advocating for fishing gear reform