Seabirds

Seabird Longline Bycatch Solutions

Seabirds including albatrosses, petrels, and shearwaters drown on longline hooks while attempting to take bait, with simple deterrent techniques capable of reducing bycatch by over 90% at minimal cost.

Key Facts

An estimated 320,000 seabirds are killed annually on longline hooks globally
21 of 22 albatross species are threatened with extinction, with longline bycatch as a primary cause
Weighted branch lines that sink hooks fast, bird-scaring lines, and night setting together reduce bycatch by 85-95%
These mitigation measures have minimal impact on target fish catch rates
Many longline fisheries still do not use available bycatch reduction measures despite their effectiveness

Welfare Considerations

Seabirds drowned on longline hooks die from asphyxiation after diving to reach the bait. The drowning process takes minutes for a bird that can dive to considerable depths. The preventability of this mortality — with techniques that are cheap, available, and proven — makes every seabird bycatch death especially frustrating from a welfare perspective. Conservation and welfare converge here: the same interventions that prevent welfare harm also prevent extinction.

What You Can Do

Support campaigns for mandatory seabird bycatch mitigation in all longline fisheries
Choose tuna and swordfish from MSC-certified fisheries with seabird bycatch requirements
Donate to BirdLife International Albatross Task Force and similar programs
Advocate for faster adoption of seabird safe fishing regulations
Raise awareness about seabird bycatch as a solvable welfare and conservation crisis