Estimates of Seabird Bycatch in Commercial Fisheries off the East Coast of the United States from 2015 to 2016

This report provides bycatch estimates for 10 species of seabirds caught in commercial fisheries off the east coast of the United States during 2015 and 2016. A total of 655 birds were recorded as bycatch in commercial fishing gear, with 579 birds from the Northeast region and 76 birds in the Mid-Atlantic region. In 2015, total bycatch estimates among all gear types included 14 (CV = 1.02) Common Loons (Gavia immer), 49 (CV = 1.01) Double-crested Cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus), 9 (CV = 0.91) Great Black-backed Gulls (Larus marinus), 1992 (CV = 0.06) Great Shearwaters (Puffinus gravis), 185 (CV = 0.52) Herring Gulls (Larus smithsonianus), 51 (CV = 0.28) Northern Fulmars (Fulmarus glacialis), 174 (CV = 0.41) Northern Gannets (Morus bassanus), 60 (CV = 0.92) Red-throated Loons (Gavia stellata), 16 (CV = 0.62) Sooty Shearwaters (Puffinus griseus), and 22 (CV = 0.51) Common Murres (Uria aalge). In 2016, total bycatch estimates among all gear types included 115 (CV = 0.42) Common Loons, 20 (CV = 0.65) Double-crested Cormorants, 26 (CV = 0.68) Great Black-backed Gulls, 1498 (CV = 0.10) Great Shearwaters, 121 (CV = 0.34) Herring Gulls, 9 (CV = 0.76) Northern Fulmars, 89 (CV = 0.38) Northern Gannets, 553 (CV = 0.19) Red-throated Loons, 81 (CV = 0.37) Sooty Shearwaters, and 16 (CV = 0.80) Common Murres.