ACAP Review and Best Practice Advice for Reducing the Impact of Pelagic Longline Fisheries on Seabirds

This document provides advice about best practices for reducing the impact of pelagic longline
fishing on seabirds. ACAP’s best practice advice is that the simultaneous use of weighted
branch lines, bird scaring lines and night setting is the most effective approach to mitigate
seabird bycatch in pelagic longline fisheries. Two hook-shielding devices, the ‘Hook Pod’ and
the ‘Smart Tuna Hook’, have recently (2016) been assessed and on the basis of this
assessment have been included in the list of best practice measures for mitigating seabird
bycatch in pelagic longline fisheries. These best practice bycatch mitigation measures should
be applied in areas where fishing effort overlaps with seabirds vulnerable to bycatch to reduce
the incidental mortality to the lowest possible levels. The ACAP review process recognises
that factors such as safety, practicality and the characteristics of the fishery should also be
taken into account when considering the efficacy of seabird bycatch mitigation measures and
consequently in the development of advice and guidelines on best practice.