2015 - ACAP summary advice for reducing the impact of pelagic longline fishing on seabirds

Citation
ACAP Secretariat (2015) 2015 - ACAP summary advice for reducing the impact of pelagic longline fishing on seabirds. IOTC, Olhao, Portugal
Abstract

A combination of weighted branch lines, bird scaring lines and night setting are best practice mitigation in pelagic longline fisheries. These measures should be applied in areas where fishing effort overlaps with seabirds vulnerable to bycatch to reduce the incidental mortality to the lowest possible levels. Other factors such as safety, practicality and the characteristics of the fishery should also be recognised. Currently, no single mitigation measure can reliably prevent the incidental mortality of seabirds in most pelagic longline fisheries. The most effective approach is to use the above measures in combination.