Information sheets

Weekly lottery winners

Winter migrants

Identification sheet for the WildSquare winter migrants survey

WildSquare

Big Schools' Birdwatch teachers' notes

Teachers' notes for Big Schools' Birdwatch 2009 in Welsh

Big Schools' Birdwatch teachers' notes

Teachers' notes for Big Schools' Birdwatch 2009

Bycatch mitigation Fact-sheet; Introduction: Seabird bycatch mitigation measures

This series of 14 Seabird Bycatch Mitigation Factsheets describes 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.

Marine and coastal, Save the Albatross

Bycatch mitigation Fact-sheet 1; Demersal Longline: Streamer lines

Streamer lines are the most commonly prescribed mitigation measures for longline fisheries and are regarded as one of the most effective known mitigation measures (a primary measure). Streamer lines are cheap, simple to use and do not require modification of the fishing gear.

Marine and coastal, Save the Albatross

Bycatch mitigation Fact-sheet 2; Demersal Longline: Line weighting – external weights

Seabirds are vulnerable to mortality during the short period between hooks leaving the vessel and sinking beyond the bird’s diving range. Line weighting is an essential component of seabird bycatch mitigation strategies, being one of the more effective known mitigation measures (a primary measure). Best practice weighting regimes should result in rapid initial line sink rates that will reduce the likelihood of seabird bycatch.

Marine and coastal, Save the Albatross

Bycatch mitigation Fact-sheet 3; Demersal Longline: Integrated weight longlines

Line weighting is an essential component of seabird bycatch mitigation strategies, being one of the most effective known mitigation measures (a primary measure). Best practice weighting regimes should result in rapid initial line sink rates that will reduce the likelihood of seabird bycatch. Integrated weight lines with lead beads in the core were developed to address this problem.

Marine and coastal, Save the Albatross

Bycatch mitigation Fact-sheet 4; Demersal Longline: Line weighting – Chilean System

Seabirds are vulnerable to mortality on longline hooks during the short period between hooks leaving the vessel and sinking beyond the bird’s diving range. The Chilean System was developed primarily to combat the problem of depredation by cetaceans, however, the configuration of the gear leads to very high initial hook sink rates, which results in near zero seabird bycatch rates.

Marine and coastal, Save the Albatross

Bycatch mitigation Fact-sheet 5; Demersal and Pelagic Longline: Night-setting

Night-setting is one of the few mitigation measures that is equally applicable to both demersal and pelagic longline fisheries.

Marine and coastal, Save the Albatross

Bycatch mitigation Fact-sheet 6;Demersal Longline: Underwater setting chute

Seabirds are at greatest risk of becoming hooked and drowned when baited hooks are at, or within a few metres of, the surface. In theory, setting hooks below the surface of the water should greatly reduce the likelihood of catching seabirds. It should be noted that this is currently a secondary measure, as underwater setting cannot be used in isolation to reduce seabird bycatch.

Marine and coastal, Save the Albatross

Bycatch mitigation Fact-sheet 7; Pelagic Longline: Streamer lines

Streamer lines are the most commonly prescribed seabird bycatch mitigation measures for longline fisheries and one of the most effective (a primary measure). Streamer lines were an innovation of Japanese tuna fishermen to prevent bait loss to birds. They are inexpensive, simple and require no modification to fishing gear.

Marine and coastal, Save the Albatross

Bycatch mitigation Fact-sheet 8; Pelagic Longline: Line weighting

Line weighting is one of the most effective known mitigation measures (a primary measure). It is widely applicable to pelagic longline fishing, and has been demonstrated to lead to reductions in seabird bycatch. It is recommended that it be used in combination with streamer lines, night setting and other measures as required.

Marine and coastal, Save the Albatross

Bycatch mitigation Fact-sheet 9; Pelagic Longline: Side-setting

Side-setting appears to be effective in the waters of the North Pacific where it was developed. The ability to generalise its use across other oceans, with a higher diversity of seabirds with greater diving capabilities and more demanding sea conditions, remains untested.

Marine and coastal, Save the Albatross

Bycatch mitigation Fact-sheet 10; Pelagic Longline: Blue-dyed bait (squid)

Blue-dyed bait is a measure under development and, while there are some promising results, there is some uncertainty about its long-term effectiveness at reducing seabird bycatch and the practicality of widespread application. Current evidence suggests that blue-dyed squid is effective but dyed fish bait is not.

Marine and coastal, Save the Albatross

Bycatch mitigation Fact-sheet 11; Pelagic Longline: Bait caster and line shooter

Some measures, used by fishermen to improve the economic or operational efficiency of fishing, are also considered effective measures to reduce seabird bycatch. Such measures may contribute to reducing seabird bycatch when used in combination with a suite of other measures, but lack efficacy when used in isolation. This Fact-sheet covers technical measures that, if used correctly, may add to the effectiveness of other mitigation measures, and if used inappropriately may render other measures ineffective.

Marine and coastal, Save the Albatross

Bycatch mitigation Fact-sheet 12; Demersal and Pelagic Longline: Haul mitigation

Seabirds are attracted to longliners during hauling to feed on discards, offal and spent bait. Birds can easily become hooked, in the bill, foot or wing, as the line returns to the surface or swallow hooks left in discards or bait. These interactions are rarely lethal at the time but the injuries sustained could have serious implications for the long-term survival of the individuals concerned.

Marine and coastal, Save the Albatross

Bycatch mitigation Fact-sheet 13; Trawl Fisheries: Warp strike

In recent years, dedicated seabird observers on trawl vessels have identified significant bycatch problems. These fall into two categories, net entanglement (Fact-sheet 14) and collisions with cables, predominantly those used to tow the net (warp strikes), but also net monitoring equipment.

Marine and coastal, Save the Albatross

Bycatch mitigation Fact-sheet 14; Trawl Fisheries: net entanglement

In recent years, dedicated seabird observers on trawl vessels have identified significant bycatch problems. These fall into two categories, collisions with the cables used to tow the net (Warp strike, Fact-sheet 13) and net entanglement.

Marine and coastal, Save the Albatross