Albatross Bycatch and Welfare | Animal Welfare Hub

Albatrosses are among the most threatened seabirds globally, with longline fisheries bycatch causing thousands of deaths annually in populations already stressed by other factors.

Key Facts

19 of 22 albatross species are threatened with extinction, with longline fisheries the primary driver of decline
Wandering albatrosses can have wingspans of 3.5 meters and live over 70 years, making each individual loss significant
Bird-scaring lines, night setting, and weighted lines reduce albatross bycatch by up to 95% when all three are combined
The Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels (ACAP) coordinates international mitigation efforts
Some fisheries have achieved near-zero albatross bycatch through comprehensive mitigation implementation
Albatrosses mate for life and raise a single chick every 2 years, making population recovery from bycatch slow

Welfare Considerations

Albatrosses killed on longline hooks drown, often after being dragged underwater by sinking baited hooks. For long-lived, monogamous birds with slow reproductive rates, each individual death represents both individual welfare harm and a disproportionate population impact. The loss of a breeding adult may leave a partner without a mate for years - a form of social welfare harm. With proven mitigation measures available, continued albatross bycatch is an entirely preventable welfare and conservation failure.

What You Can Do

Support ACAP and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds in albatross bycatch campaigns
Choose seafood certified by schemes requiring comprehensive seabird bycatch mitigation
Advocate for mandatory bird-scaring lines and night setting in longline fisheries globally
Donate to BirdLife International's global seabird bycatch reduction program
Raise awareness that albatross bycatch is preventable and that consumer choices can drive fishery reform