Marine Animals

Sea Bird Bycatch and Longline Fishing

Longline fishing kills an estimated 300,000 seabirds annually, including albatrosses and petrels, threatening several species with extinction.

Key Facts

Albatrosses dive after longline bait and drown on the hooks
19 of 22 albatross species are threatened with extinction
Simple measures (bird-scaring lines, night setting, weighted lines) reduce seabird bycatch by 90%
Many countries still lack mandatory bycatch mitigation measures on fishing vessels

Welfare Considerations

Seabirds that drown on longlines experience a prolonged, distressing death by asphyxiation. Albatrosses are particularly vulnerable because they travel vast distances to forage. The death of adult breeders is catastrophic for populations that raise only one chick every two years.

What You Can Do

Support fisheries certification schemes that require seabird bycatch mitigation
Advocate for mandatory bird-scaring line regulations in your country
Choose certified sustainable seafood that verifies bycatch practices
Support BirdLife International and the Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels