Seabird Bycatch in Longline Fisheries

Seabirds including albatrosses, petrels, and shearwaters are drowned in large numbers on longline fishing hooks globally, with devastating welfare and conservation consequences.

Key Facts

An estimated 300,000 seabirds are killed as bycatch in longline fisheries annually
Albatrosses are particularly vulnerable - 15 of 22 species are threatened with extinction
Birds drown when they grab baited hooks on the surface and become entangled
Bird-scaring lines, night setting, and weighted lines are effective mitigation measures
The Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels promotes mitigation measures
Some fisheries have reduced seabird bycatch by over 90% using simple measures
Lack of enforcement on high seas fishing vessels remains a major barrier to progress

Welfare Considerations

Drowning on a longline hook is a prolonged, terrifying death for highly intelligent, long-lived birds. Albatrosses, which mate for life and take years to rear each chick, suffer both individual welfare harm and population-level consequences from bycatch. Mitigation measures are simple, proven, and affordable - but adoption requires regulation and enforcement. Consumer choices for certified sustainable seafood, combined with advocacy for stronger high-seas fisheries governance, are the most effective leverage points for change.

What You Can Do

Choose seafood certified to standards that address seabird bycatch (MSC with seabird provisions)
Support the Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels
Advocate for mandatory bycatch mitigation measures in fishing licenses
Support BirdLife International's Albatross Task Force campaigns
Learn about the extraordinary biology of albatrosses and share their story