Marine Animal Welfare

Marine Seabird Longline Bycatch Welfare

Seabird bycatch on longline fishing gear causes drowning deaths of albatrosses, petrels, and other species, requiring mitigation through gear modifications.

Key Facts

Longline vessels deploy up to 130 km of baited hooks that attract diving seabirds
Albatrosses are the most affected group with 15 of 22 species threatened with extinction
Mitigation measures including bird-scaring lines, weighting, and night setting reduce bycatch by 90%
Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels coordinates international mitigation
Some tuna certification schemes now require seabird mitigation measures

Welfare Considerations

Individual seabirds caught on longlines drown in distress - a painful, preventable death caused by fishing operations. At population level, longline bycatch is driving albatross populations toward extinction. Mitigation measures protect both individual welfare and conservation.

What You Can Do

Choose tuna and other longline-caught fish from certified sustainability schemes
Support ACAP and BirdLife International campaigns for seabird bycatch mitigation
Advocate for mandatory bycatch mitigation requirements on all longline fisheries