Wildlife Welfare

Wild Seabird Bycatch and Fishing Welfare

Seabird bycatch in fishing gear kills hundreds of thousands of birds annually, causing drowning deaths that constitute a significant welfare problem.

Key Facts

Longline fishing kills an estimated 160,000 seabirds annually including 100,000 albatrosses
Seabirds drown after taking baited hooks intended for fish
Bird-scaring lines streamer lines and night setting significantly reduce seabird bycatch
Gillnets entangle and drown diving seabirds including auks and gannets
Bycatch mitigation measures are cost-effective and widely adopted in well-managed fisheries

Welfare Considerations

Drowning in fishing gear is a prolonged and distressing death for seabirds. Albatrosses and petrels can be held underwater for extended periods before drowning. The scale of seabird bycatch represents one of the most significant human-caused welfare impacts on wild seabird populations. Mitigation measures that dramatically reduce bycatch are available and should be mandatory in all fisheries.

What You Can Do

Support certification schemes requiring seabird bycatch mitigation
Choose sustainable seafood certified under schemes addressing seabird bycatch
Advocate for mandatory bird-scaring line requirements in all longline fisheries