In pelagic longline fisheries, seabirds may become hooked and drown when they take a baited hook. Mitigation of seabird bycatch aims to deter and prevent birds from taking bait, principally through the combined use of multiple techniques, including streamer (tori) lines, fast sinking, weighted branch lines, night setting and, most recently, hook shielding devices (i.e., HookPod).
ACAP (Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels) conduct a regular review of scientific literature dealing with seabird bycatch mitigation in pelagic longline fisheries. The review and resulting summary of Best Practice Advice can be found here: ACAP Review and Best Practice Advice for Reducing the Impact of Pelagic Longline Fisheries on Seabirds (May 2019)
Handy species ID guides can be found here. For detailed information about seabird species affected by longline and purse seine fisheries, the following resources may be helpful:
ACAP Data Portal - Albatross & Petrel species
Birdlife International Data Zone - Species Search

Species
3-Alpha Code | Name | Scientific Name |
---|---|---|
ALZ | ALBATROSS | Diomedea spp |
B02 | CAMPBELL IS BLACK-BROWED MOLLYMAWK | Diomedea melanophrys impavida |
BIZ | BIRD (UNIDENTIFIED) | |
CSK | GREAT SKUA | Catharacta skua |
DAC | CAPE PIGEON | Daption capense |
DCR | YELLOW-NOSED ALBATROSS | Diomedea chlororhynchos |
DCU | NEW ZEALAND WHITE CAPPED MOLLYMAWK | Diomedea cauta |
DIB | BULLER' S ALBATROSS | Diomedea bulleri |
DIC | GREY HEADED ALBATROSS | Diomedea chrysostoma |
DIM | BLACK-BROWED MOLLYMAWK | Diomedea melanophrys |
DIP | SOUTHERN ROYAL ALBATROSS | Diomedea epomophora |
DIX | WANDERING ALBATROSS | Diomedea exulans |
DIZ | LAYSAN ALBATROSS | Diomedea immutabilis |
DKN | BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS | Diomedea nigripes |
DKS | SALVIN'S ALBATROSS | Diomedea salvini |
LHX | SEAGULLS NEI | Larus spp |
MAH | NORTHERN GIANT PETREL | Macronectes halli |
MAI | SOUTHERN GIANT PETREL | Macronectes giganteus |
PCI | GREY PETREL | Procellaria cinerea |
PCW | WESTLAND PETREL | Procellaria westlandica |
PDM | GREAT-WINGED PETREL | Pterodroma macroptera |
PFC | FLESH-FOOTED SHEARWATER | Puffinus carneipes |
PFG | SOOTY SHEARWATER | Puffinus griseus |
PFT | SHORT-TAILED SHEARWATER | Puffinus tenuirostris |
PFZ | WEDGE-TAILED SHEARWATER | Puffinis pacificus |
PHE | LIGHT-MANTLED SOOTY ALBATROSS | Phoebetria palpebrata |
PRK | BLACK PETREL | Procellaria parkinsoni |
PRO | WHITE-CHINNED PETREL | Procellaria aequinoctialis |
PRX | PETRELS AND PUFFINS |