The development of ACAP seabird bycatch indicators, data needs, methodological approaches and reporting requirements

The Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels (ACAP) is a multilateral environmental agreement that seeks to achieve and maintain a favourable conservation status for albatrosses and petrels. The Agreement is currently ratified by 13 countries. In addition, a number of non-Party Range States and international organisations actively participate in the work of the Agreement. The Agreement provides a framework for coordinating and undertaking international activity to mitigate known threats to populations of affected species, including fisheries bycatch. In order to monitor and report on the performance of the Agreement, a system of indicators following the Pressure-State-Response framework is being developed and implemented by ACAP. The primary Pressure indicator for bycatch comprises two linked components: (i) the seabird bycatch rate across each of the fisheries of member Parties, and (ii) the total number of birds killed (bycaught) per year of ACAP species (per species where possible). The Seabird Bycatch Working Group of ACAP is currently undertaking work to develop guidelines on issues that need to be considered in estimating and reporting against these bycatch indicators and, considering the estimation methods currently in use, to propose guidance and recommendations to achieve consistent reporting. This paper provides an outline of the recommendations and guidelines that have been developed to date. It is important to note that this represents work in progress, and is presented here to help inform discussions regarding seabird bycatch estimation and reporting within the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) and other RFMOs.