Reducing seabird bycatch in longline fisheries by means of bird-scaring lines and underwater setting
S. Løkkeborg
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Description
Seabirds scavenge baits from the hooks of commercial longline gear resulting in bait loss and seabird mortality. This interaction may cause decline in seabird populations and seriously reduce efficiency of fishing gear. Various mitigation measures capable of reducing the likelihood of seabird incidental catches have been proposed and described, but only a few studies have been conducted to quantify their effectiveness. An experiment to quantify seabird bycatch and bait loss caused by seabirds was carried out in the course of commercial longlining. Data were obtained from longlines set using three different mitigation measures and compared with those of longlines set without such measures. Potential increases in catches of target fish by using such measures were also quantified. The three measures tested included two different types of birdscaring line (lines with suspended streamers that are towed astern during setting) and an underwater setting funnel. In the course of 11 settings for each of these methods, zero and two seabirds respectively were caught using one or the other of the bird-scaring lines, and six with the setting funnel, compared with 74 birds when no device was used. The experiment demonstrated reduced bait loss and increased catch rates of target species in settings where either mitigation measure was employed. Increased catch rates were most pronounced for lines that were set using one of the bird-scaring lines.
Item details
- Item number: AK-SG-01-01b
- Year: 2001
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.4027/sbtrs.2001.02
