Utilization of offal and discards from “finfish” trawlers around the Falkland Islands by the Black‐browed Albatross Diomedea melanophris

Abstract

Multinational fisheries operating in the vicinity of the Falkland Islands currently take c. 90,000 tonnes of true fish (“finfish” as opposed to squid) per annum, including hakes Merluccius spp., Southern Blue Whiting Micromesistius australis, Hoki Macruronus magel‐lanicus and Red Cod Salilota australis, and generate substantial quantities of fisheries waste in the form of discards and offal. This paper examines the use made of this waste by scavenging Black‐browed Albatrosses Diomedea melanophris which breed in the Falklands. The various types of waste produced are described and their consumption by scavenging albatrosses is quantified. The results indicate that Black‐browed Albatrosses obtain c. 8000 tonnes of food per annum from this source, of which two‐thirds is offal and the remainder whole discards. The energy content of this waste is equivalent to 4.4% of the estimated total annual energy requirements of the Falklands Black‐browed Albatross population. However, as the fishery is a greater predator of finfish stocks than are the albatrosses, its long‐term impact may be detrimental to these birds.