Improving ACAP's advice on best practice line weighting for coastal State pelagic longline fisheries

Recommendations:
It is recommended that:
1. ACAP use the following criteria to define best practice for coastal State
fisheries:
i) line weighting regime;
ii) crew safety; and
iii) ease of compliance monitoring.
2. Best practice line weighting be assessed as if it is used as a single measure to safeguard against any non-compliance to night setting and the non-use of streamer lines;
3. Best practice line weighting be defined as the placement of leads either at the hook or on very short (≤0.5 m) leaders in areas where shark bite-offs are considered excessive. Lead sinkers on long leaders should not be considered best practice; and
4. 40 g sinkers at the hook (or ≤0.05 m) be considered best practice in areas of low risk to seabirds. In areas of medium to high risk to seabirds, or where risk is unknown, ≥60 g sinkers at the hook (or ≤0.5 m) be considered best practice.