Wild Seabird Longline Bycatch Welfare

Longline fishing kills millions of seabirds annually - mitigation measures significantly reduce bycatch welfare harm.

Key Facts

An estimated 160,000 seabirds die as longline bycatch annually globally
Albatrosses are most severely affected with multiple species Critically Endangered partly due to bycatch
Mitigation measures including night setting, bird-scaring lines, and weighted lines reduce bycatch by over 90%
The Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels promotes mitigation adoption internationally
Some fishing nations have mandatory mitigation requirements while others have none
Consumer pressure on fishing industry and seafood retailers drives mitigation adoption

Welfare Considerations

Longline bycatch drowning causes acute suffering in seabirds that become hooked while diving for bait. The scale of mortality represents one of the most significant ongoing human-caused seabird welfare crises. Available mitigation technology is highly effective and low-cost - the barrier is adoption, not technical capability.

What You Can Do

Support BirdLife International's Save the Albatross campaign for universal mitigation adoption
Choose seafood from fisheries with verified bycatch mitigation measures in place
Ask retailers about bycatch mitigation requirements for longline-caught seafood they sell
Advocate for mandatory mitigation requirements in international fisheries agreements
Donate to albatross and seabird conservation organisations addressing bycatch globally