Distribution of ecologically related species in the Atlantic Ocean: Sighting by Taiwanese tuna longline fishing vessels from 2004 to 2008

From 2004 to 2008, the data of 85 trips, 7,652 observation days of Taiwanese tuna longline fishing vessels were used to analyze the distribution of ecologically related species. More than 50 species were recorded, including 36 species of seabirds, 5 species of sea turtles and 8 species of cetaceans. Most of the sea turtles and cetaceans were recorded in tropical area, including olive ridely, leatherback turtle, pantropical spotted dolphin and bottlenose dolphins. Only a few loggerhead and whales were present in temperate waters. Sea birds were distributed in the entire Atlantic Ocean with different species composition by area. Northern fulmar, black-legged kittiwake, and great shearwater were shown in the northern Atlantic Ocean. Shearwaters, boobies, terns, storm-petrels, gulls and gannets were abundant in tropical areas. Eight species of albatrosses and petrels were distributed in the southern area. To avoid the incidental catch of those species, all Taiwanese vessels operating south of 20oS are required to set bird scaring lines and other mitigation measures. The continuing collection of data could provide information for conservation purposes.