Albatrosses are among the most threatened seabirds on Earth, with longline fishing bycatch killing an estimated 100,000 birds annually and causing profound welfare suffering and population decline.
Albatrosses hooked on longlines drown after prolonged struggling against the line — a distressing and painful death. The slow reproductive rate of albatrosses means population recovery from bycatch takes decades. The tragedy is compounded by the fact that proven, inexpensive mitigation measures including bird-scaring lines cost almost nothing relative to the value of fish caught and can eliminate most albatross bycatch when properly used. Consumer seafood choices and fishing certification requirements drive the adoption of these life-saving measures.