Streamer lines to reduce seabird bycatch in longline fisheries

A collaborative study with industry testing seabird bycatch deterrents in the Alaska sablefish and Pacific cod fisheries showed that streamer lines, a bird-scaring device applicable to a wide range of vessels, reduced seabird bycatch dramatically. Streamer lines deployed in pairs reduced bycatch by 88% to 100%. Single streamer lines were less effective, but still reduced seabird bycatch by 71% to 91%. New Alaska regulations (2003) require most longline vessels to tow streamer lines as a seabird bycatch deterrent.