The wandering albatross has the largest wingspan of any living bird and is seriously threatened by drowning on longline fishing hooks, requiring urgent fisheries reform.
Longline drowning is a slow and distressing death for seabirds attracted to baited hooks. The slow reproductive rate means population recovery from bycatch losses requires decades even with full protection. Bird-scaring lines, night setting, and weighted lines reduce bycatch significantly and are required in some fisheries.