Bycatch Mitigation Fact-Sheet 8 (Sept 2014) Pelagic Longline: Line weighting

BirdLife International have produced a series of Seabird Bycatch Mitigation Factsheets which describe the range of potential mitigation measures available to reduce seabird bycatch in longline and trawl fisheries. The sheets assess the effectiveness of each measure, highlight their limitations and strengths, and make best practice recommendations for their effective adoption. They are designed to help decision-makers choose the most appropriate measures for their longline and trawl fisheries. Line weighting is a primary mitigation measure and key component in all successful reductions in seabird bycatch in pelagic longline fisheries. Line weighting should be used in combination with streamer lines and night-setting.