Marine & Aquatic

Wild Seabird Longline Bycatch Solutions

Longline fishing bycatch kills hundreds of thousands of seabirds annually, with proven technical solutions substantially reducing deaths.

Key Facts

Albatross and petrel bycatch on longlines is a leading extinction driver for many species
Bird-scaring lines (tori lines), night-setting, and weighted lines reduce bycatch by over 90%
International agreements under ACAP coordinate seabird bycatch reduction globally
Fishery compliance with bycatch mitigation measures remains inconsistent

Welfare Considerations

Seabirds caught on longlines drown slowly over hours. The scale of bycatch mortality - affecting some of the world's most threatened bird species - represents a major tractable welfare problem. Simple, low-cost solutions are available but not consistently implemented.

What You Can Do

Choose seafood certified by fisheries with seabird bycatch mitigation
Support Birdlife International's Global Seabird Programme
Advocate for mandatory bycatch mitigation compliance in fishing agreements