Improving compliance with bird scaring line measures in longline and trawl fisheries

Bird-scaring lines (BSL) are a best practice mitigation measure for the mitigation of seabird interactions and bycatch in pelagic longline, demersal longline and trawl fisheries. While BSL have proven to successfully reduce seabird deaths and bait loss in fisheries, compliance with their use remains a challenge. The use of electronic monitoring devices may help ensure implementation and compliance with BSL mitigation measures while vessels are out at sea. A BSL compliance monitoring device has been developed and trialled with funding provided as an ACAP Small Grant awarded in 2020. The device works by continuously measuring the tension exerted by a BSL when its terminal end is dragged through the water. Such devices have the potential for improving the independent monitoring of the deployment and use of BSLs, and to reduce workloads and potential work health and safety hazards facing fisheries observers at sea. Further research and development of BSL compliance monitoring devices is merited.