Incidental Mortality Of Seabirds Research Articles

Incidental mortality of seabirds in pollock trawl fishery in the northwestern part of the Bering Sea

Purpose of the work: Estimation of average annual number of seabirds that die as a result of lethal strikes with fishing gear in the specialized pollock trawl fishery by large-tonnage fleet in the West Bering Sea zone.Methods used: The article is based on materials collected by ornithologists on large freezer trawlers in the summer and autumn periods in 2020 and 2021. To record bird deaths we used inspection of warps, net sonar wire third cable, net trawl, codend during trawl retrieval and count of bird lethal collisions with fishing gear during observation sessions at all stages of fishing operations. The total mortality was estimated by extrapolating the mean catch-rates (number of dead birds per vessel day) to fishing efforts of large-tonnage fleet in the West Bering Sea zone in 2020 and 2021.Novelty: The annual average mortality of birds in large-scale trawling was determined for the first time for domestic fisheries and an expert assessment of its potential risk to populations of the catched species was carried outResults: The death of 203 birds was recorded during 139 vessel days. The total estimated mortality in fishing gear was 8,355 (CI 5259–11451) birds per year: 4,717 northern fulmars, 1,667 short-tailed shearwaters, 1,006 Laysan albatrosses, 822 black-legged kittiwakes, 48 slaty-backed gulls, 48 Vega gulls, and 47 red-legged kittiwakes. Comparison of these estimates with the global or regional number of birds suggests that mortality in fishing gear in 2020 and 2021 did not have a significant negative impact on the state of species (proportion of dead birds was 0.005–0.085% of their population estimates). Despite the regular presence of short-tailed albatrosses near trawlers in the Navarin area, no deaths in fishing gear were recorded.Practical significance: The results are necessary for the process of ecological certification of the specialized pollock trawl fishery in the West Bering Sea zone.

Seabird bycatch vulnerability in pelagic longline fisheries based on modelling of a long-term dataset

SummaryThe incidental mortality of seabirds in fisheries remains a serious global concern. Obtaining unbiased and accurate estimates of bycatch rates is a priority for seabird bycatch mitigation and demographic research. For measuring the capture risk of seabird interactions in fisheries, the rate of carcass retrieval from hauled gear is commonly used. However, reliability can be limited by a lack of direct capture observations and the substantial pre-haul bycatch losses known to occur, meaning incidence of seabird bycatch is underestimated. To solve this problem, a new measure (bycatch vulnerability) that links an observed interaction directly to the underlying capture event is proposed to represent the capture risk of fishery interactions by seabirds. The new measure is not affected by subsequent bycatch loss. To illustrate how to estimate and analyse bycatch vulnerability, a case study based on a long-term dataset of seabird interactions and capture confirmation is provided. Bayesian modelling and hypothesis testing were conducted to identify important bycatch risk factors. Competition was found to play a central role in determining seabird bycatch vulnerability. More competitive environments were riskier for seabirds, and larger and thus more competitive species were more at risk than smaller sized and less competitive species. Species foraging behaviour also played a role. On the other hand, no additional effect of physical oceanic condition and spatio-temporal factors on bycatch vulnerability was detected. Bycatch vulnerability is recommended as a replacement for the commonly used bycatch rate or carcass retrieval rate to measure the capture risk of an interaction. Combined with a normalized contact rate, bycatch vulnerability offers an unbiased estimate of seabird bycatch rate in pelagic longline fisheries.

Seabird bycatch loss rate variability in pelagic longline fisheries

The incidental mortality of seabirds from fisheries ranks as the greatest threat impacting seabirds globally. However, its impact on seabird populations may have been substantially underestimated due to lost, undetected bycatch. To estimate the full extent of the bycatch problem, knowledge about the magnitude and variability of lost bycatch is necessary. Based on a long-term dataset, this study aims to facilitate the loss-corrected bycatch estimates for pelagic longline fisheries that do not have a concurrent bycatch loss observation component. We analyze information from all types of fishery interactions of seabirds to improve the estimate of bycatch loss rate and also reveal its variability. Specifically, we analyze how environmental and ecological factors affect seabird bycatch loss rate using Bayesian state-space models. Results show strong species effects in the bycatch loss rate. Inclement weather and strong competition among seabird species also affect bycatch loss rate. Estimates of the species-specific bycatch loss rate indicate that, for some species, the loss can well exceed the average loss rate, suggesting that seabird bycatch loss cannot be further ignored in assessing the fishery impact on seabird populations. To gauge the full scale of seabird bycatch, it is critical to account for this lost bycatch in bycatch assessments, at minimum, using an average loss rate with the ultimate goal of species-specific loss-corrected assessments.

Incidental seabird mortality and discarded catches from trawling off far southern Chile (39–57°S)

AbstractIn world fisheries, incidental non target species mortality have turned in a permanent debate issue. Although many studies have dealt with these interactions from a descriptive overview, there is little information based on fishing operations data. One of the most important species that have awakened scientific concern are seabird, being southern Chile one of the areas with the highest levels in this kind of interactions. In order to improve our understanding on these relationships, we analyze records of fishing hauls of industrial trawlers off the coast of Chile between 39 and 57°S. The results showed that incidental seabird mortality appears to be affected mainly by the collisions with net monitoring systems (net-sonde cable), the duration of fishing hauls, the year period, and the fishing zones, these last related to the breeding period and areas of albatross colonies. We indirectly address a probable relationship between seabird mortality and fishing discards, and some hypothesis are proposed to explain the results. Finally, we demonstrated that longer fishing hauls are less efficient for fishing, beside to a high seabird mortality. Our findings suggest mitigation actions that would harmonize fishing activity with the ecosystem, in particular, for trawl fishing management and operations off far southern Chile.

Fishery-specific solutions to seabird bycatch in the U.S. West Coast sablefish fishery

Abstract Bird scaring lines (BSLs) protect longline fishing gear from seabird attacks, save bait, reduce incidental seabird mortality and are the most commonly prescribed seabird bycatch mitigation measure worldwide. We collaborated with fishermen to assess the efficacy of applying BSL regulations from the demersal longline sablefish fishery in Alaska to a similar fishery along the U.S West Coast. In contrast to Alaska, some U.S. West Coast vessels use floats along the line to keep hooks off the seafloor, where scavengers degrade the bait and the target catch. Our results confirmed that BSL regulations from Alaska were sufficient to protect baits from bird attacks on longlines without floats, but not baits on longlines with floats. Longlines with floats sank below the reach of albatrosses (2 m depth) at a distance astern (157.7 m ± 44.8 95% CI) that was 2.3 times farther than longlines without floats (68.8 m ± 37.8 95% CI). The floated longline distance was well beyond the protection afforded by BSLs, which is approximately 40 m of aerial extent. Black-footed albatross attacked floated longlines at rates ten times more (2.7 attacks/1000 hooks, 0.48–4.45 95%CI) than longlines without floats (0.20 attacks/1000 hooks, 0.01–0.36 95% CI). Retrospective analysis of NOAA Fisheries Groundfish Observer Program data suggested that seabird bycatch occurs in a few sablefish longline fishing sectors and a minority of vessels, but is not confined to larger vessels. Analysis also confirmed fishermen testimonials that night setting reduced albatross bycatch by an order of magnitude compared to daytime setting, without reducing target catch. Night setting could be an effective albatross bycatch prevention practice if applied to the U.S. West Coast sablefish longline fishery and provide a practical alternative for vessels that elect to use floated longlines. These results highlight the importance of understanding region-specific longline gear modifications to identify effective bycatch reduction tools and the value of working collaboratively with fishermen to craft solutions.

Influence of electric fishing lights on sink rates of baited hooks in Brazilian pelagic longline fisheries: implications for seabird bycatch

The incidental mortality of seabirds in longline fisheries is the major cause of the population declines threatening most albatross and large petrel species (LEWISON; CROWDER, 2003; ANDERSON et al., 2011). Currently there is a large and growing number of solutions for reducing seabird mortality on longlines. The combination of certain mitigation measures can greatly reduce seabird bycatch, although no single mitigation measure can reliably prevent seabird mortality. The combination of night setting, bird scaring lines and well-weighted branch lines are the best practice for the mitigation of seabird bycatch in pelagic longline fisheries (ACAP, 2014).The sink rate of baited hooks is arguably the major issue to be addressed to reduce seabird-longline interactions. Even when scaring lines are used, to make them effective the baited hooks must attain safe depths (i.e. deeper than the diving range of most petrel species) within the area protected by a scaring line. Many factors are known to affect the sink rate of baited hooks on pelagic longlines, such as the bait type (e.g. squid, mackerel, sardine, skipjack flash) and its state (e.g. dead or alive, frozen or thawed); the mainline tension during deployment; and line weight regimes (the use or not of leaded swivels, as well as their mass and distance from the hooks) (ANDERSON; MCARDLE, 2002; PETERSON et al., 2008, ROBERTSON et al., 2010; ROBERTSON et al., 2013).The best weighting regimes recommended are those that reach a depth of 10 m while under the protection of a scaring line with ~100 m aerial coverage (PETERSEN et al., 2008, MELVIN et al., 2009a). Experiments have indicated that ≥ 60 g placed no more than 3 m from the hooks is likely to achieve satisfactory sink rates under most operational conditions (MELVIN et al., 2009b; ROBERTSON et al., 2010; GIANUCA et al., 2011). Accordingly, among the best practices to reduce seabird mortality in pelagic longline fisheries recommended by the Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels (ACAP, 2014) and the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT, 2011), is to use specific line-weighting regimes that ensure appropriate sink rates. The three recommended configurations are: weight greater than 45 g attached within 1 m of the hook or greater than 60 g attached within 3.5 m of the hook or greater than 98 g attached within 4 m of the hook. Positioning the weight farther than 4 m from the hook is not recommended.The use of chemical light sticks and more recently battery powered electric fishing lights (EFL), increases catch rates by attracting target species directly or by attracting their prey (BERKELEY et al., 1981; FREEMAN, 1989; ORTIZ; SCOTT, 2001; HAZIN et al., 2005). Despite the addition of this kind of device (usually ~2 m from the hooks) alters the surface/volume ratio of the terminal portion of the branch lines and potentially the sink rate of baited hooks, no investigation has yet been undertaken on this issue.EFL have recently been adopted by the southern Brazilian pelagic longline fleet, and their use and popularity are growing among fishermen and ship owners. Each EFL carries two AA batteries and, given its weight out of the water (~160 g), some fishermen argue that the use of this kind of device increases the sink rate of baited hooks, and using this untested premise as justification for not adopting the required line-weighting regimes.In the light of this scenario, the aim of the present

Are bycatch rates sufficient as the principal fishery performance measure and method of assessment for seabirds?

ABSTRACT Seabird bycatch in oceanic and coastal fisheries is believed to be the principal cause of the population declines that have been observed for many seabird populations. Pelagic and demersal longline and trawl operations have been implicated in these declines. Many government and national fishery bodies have environmental and fishery legislation that requires fisheries to be managed in a manner that is not harmful to non‐target species, including seabirds. A common tool for measuring the impact of a fishery on incidentally caught seabirds is an estimate of the bycatch rate. Unfortunately, the estimation and interpretation of bycatch rates is not trivial and is complicated by poor observer coverage, under‐reporting of bycatch and data lacking species specificity. In this paper, a stochastic simulation model of two seabird populations affected by a single fishing fleet is presented. The model is used to explore the consequences of applying a bycatch rate management control rule to assess and manage the fishery's incidental mortality of seabirds. Comparisons are also made with values derived from Potential Biological Removal (PBR) theory. Results conclude that using bycatch rates as a measure to assess performance of the fishery and to reduce bycatch is, under many circumstances, not sufficient to achieve conservation goals. Bycatch rates can be within the limit recommended by management, giving the impression that the fishery has reduced bycatch to sustainable levels, when in fact the low rates are due to the populations having collapsed. The interpretation of bycatch rates, and any subsequent bycatch rate management rules, needs to be considered with respect to changes in fishing effort, to population‐specific impacts, to levels of compliance, and to the robustness of the bycatch rate estimate. Simply applying a bycatch rate control rule without caution can lead to catastrophic results for incidentally caught populations of seabirds. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Entanglement and Drowning of a Magellanic Penguin (Spheniscus magellanicus) in a Gill Net Recorded by a Time-Depth Recorder in South-Central Chile

Abstract. Various mitigation measures have been implemented to reduce incidental seabird mortality in longline and trawl fisheries but little attention has been given to artisanal fishing. In the 2008/09 breeding season, during a study of foraging of Humboldt, Spheniscus humboldti, and Magellanic Penguins, S. magellanicus, breeding on Punihuil islets, southern Chile, a Magellanic Penguin equipped with a time-depth recorder became entangled and subsequently drowned in a gill net set for Corvina Drum (Cilus gilberti). The device was returned by fishermen and the data appear to be the first documented case of such a drowning in a marine, air-breathing vertebrate. According to the data, while diving to a depth of more than 50 m, the bird became entangled and drowned, remaining below 60 m for nearly 21 hours until the net was hauled. Although only a single incident is reported, there are indications that incidental mortality of penguins, other seabirds and marine mammals is more common in artisanal fisheries t...

At-sea distribution and diet of an endangered top predator: relationship between white-chinned petrels and commercial longline fisheries

Incidental seabird mortality associated with longline commercial fishing is a worldwide conservation concern. To develop conservation strategies, it is essential to estimate the likelihood of seabird bycatch and the degree of overlap between birds’ foraging grounds and commercial fishing areas. We tracked 21 adult white-chinned petrels Procellaria aequinoctialis breeding on Kerguelen Island, southern Indian Ocean, during their breeding period in 2006 and in 2008. At-sea foraging distribution of white-chinned petrels was mainly confined to Antarctic waters. Commercial longline fisheries targeting toothfish were operating in both the French Exclusive Economic Zone and in other Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources areas during the study. We analysed concurrent data on the positions of both birds and vessels to estimate overlap. Static analysis using indices (home-range and utilization distribution overlap) revealed that, at a large scale, spatial and temporal overlap occurred, but varied among areas and with breeding stage. Dynamic analysis (detection of operating vessels respective to bird locations within a time/space window) revealed little overlap at a small scale. Our study revealed a mismatch between large- and small-scale overlap estimates, suggesting that birds and vessels occupy the same overall zone with infrequent co-occurrence (19% of birds in the vicinity of vessels). This result was confirmed by the relatively low occurrence of fishery-related items (4 to 22%) in chick food samples. However, given the large size of seabird populations, overall, large numbers of birds overlap with vessels, and management authorities should maintain and promote the implementation of strict mitigation measures to further reduce bycatch.

Longline Fisheries and Foraging Distribution of Flesh‐Footed Shearwaters in Eastern Australia

ABSTRACT Incidental seabird mortality associated with bycatch during longline commercial fishing is a conservation concern. An initial step to estimating likelihood of seabird bycatch and conceiving conservation strategies is determining amount of overlap between foraging birds and commercial fishing effort, identifying oceanographic features associated with foraging birds, and quantifying dive characteristics. We tracked 24 adult flesh‐footed shearwaters (Puffinus carneipes) breeding on Lord Howe Island located east of Australia during incubation and early and late chick‐rearing periods from 6 January to 17 April 2005. At‐sea foraging distribution of flesh‐footed shearwaters was primarily confined within the jurisdictional Australian Fishing Zone. Foraging was strongly associated with sea‐surface temperature >24°C. Spatial and temporal overlap of longline fishing with foraging shearwaters varied throughout the breeding season, but was greatest (63% overlap) during early chick‐rearing. Mean maximum distance reached from the breeding colony during a foraging event was 804 km (SD = 280) from Lord Howe Island. Foraging behavior was strongly diurnal, with 91% of dives occurring during daylight, and most dives (77%) were <5 m. Given that longline fishing and flesh‐footed shearwaters overlap substantially, the Australian Fisheries Management Authority should consider implementing additional regulations to further reduce bycatch. Conservation strategies such as setting longlines at nights may reduce flesh‐footed shearwater bycatch.

A Bird’s-Eye View of Arctic Governance: Reflecting on the Role of International Law in Arctic Cooperation from a Bird Conservation Perspective

Abstract This article discusses the role of international law in environmental governance in the Arctic. It does so from the perspective of bird conservation. Challenges in the latter field are introduced, including the impact of climate change on Arctic bird habitats and the incidental mortality of seabirds in Arctic fisheries. The ability of the current international legal framework in the Arctic to meet these challenges is scrutinised, and future scenarios for its enhancement are explored, including the conclusion of (a) new legally binding agreement(s). Five species receive particular attention as part of this exercise: gyrfalcon (Falco rusticolus), ivory gull (Pagophila eburnea), spoon-billed sandpiper (Eurynorhynchus pygmeus), Kittlitz’s murrelet (Brachyramphus brevirostris) and Brünnich’s guillemot (Uria lomvia). Special attention is also devoted to the issue of seabird bycatch.

Effect of longline configuration on seabird mortality in the Argentine semi-pelagic Kingclip Genypterus blacodes fishery

Incidental mortality of seabirds caused by longline fisheries in the south-western Atlantic Ocean has been assessed only with reference to the number of birds caught, not taking into account how the configuration of the gear affects mortality. We provide the first direct estimates of the impact on seabirds of the semi-pelagic fishing gear used in the Argentine Kingclip Genypterus blacodes fishery. The gear included weights and buoys, sequentially spaced along the lines, which enabled fishing to occur at different depths. During a fishing trip onboard the F/V Argenova XII in the austral summer of 2005, 74 birds were captured, comprising 56 White-chinned petrels Procellaria aequinoctialis and 18 Black-browed albatrosses Thalassarche melanophrys. More than half of the hooked birds were caught in the first third of the lines being set, and almost all White-chinned petrels (96%) and Black-browed albatrosses (83%) were caught within 30 m (i.e. 24 hooks) of buoys. The floats used in semi-pelagic longlines are likely to decrease the sinking rates of baited hooks near them, buoying up the lines near the surface and increasing the likelihood of seabird interactions. Although we lack information on the distribution of captured fish along these longlines, the most feasible methods to reduce seabird bycatch in the Argentine semi-pelagic longline fishery would be (1) to deploy lines without hooks near line floats (the removal of 24 hooks either side of each float should substantially reduce seabird interactions with gear) or (2) to use long snoods between the mainline and the floats, allowing the baited hooks to quickly sink beyond the reach of seabirds.

Artisanal longline fisheries in Southern Chile: Lessons to be learned to avoid incidental seabird mortality

Industrial longline fisheries are considered worldwide as the main threat to albatross and petrel populations, particularly at open oceans. However, inside countries’ EEZ artisanal fleets account for a significant fishing effort and eventually, could represent a major threat to these species than industrial fishing. Here we provide the first assessment of incidental mortality in two artisanal fleets in southern Chile, targeting Austral hake and Patagonian toothfish, which accounts for 0.9 and 20 millions hooks/year, respectively. Fishing techniques of these fleets have many particularities that made their operation markedly different from the more known industrial longliners, therefore their characteristics and sink rates are thoroughly described. By-catch rates (BPUE) estimated were low: 0.030 and 0.047 birds per 1000 hooks in hake and toothfish fisheries, respectively, despite that no mitigation measured was in use. These low results may reflect the fast sink rate profile of the particular longline type used by these fisheries, although the low abundance of species present may influence too. Both fleets use a modified longline having secondary hook-lines placed vertical along the mother line, each having a weight that increases significantly its sink rate, reaching 0.33 and 0.69–0.22 m s −1 in the hake and toothfish longlines, respectively. Considering the big fishing effort deployed by the artisanal toothfish fleet, recommendations on mitigation measures are given for each fishery to further improve their fishing techniques.

Seabird bycatch by tuna longline fisheries off southern Africa, 1998–2000

The incidental mortality of seabirds in tuna longline fisheries is estimated for the continental South African Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Fishery observers accompanied 13 fishing trips and observed 108 sets (143 260 hooks) during the period 1998–2000. Despite most lines being set at night, seabird bycatch rates were high, with a mean of 1.6 birds killed per 1 000 hooks. Japanese vessels (1% effort observed) had a higher bycatch rate (2.6 birds per 1 000 hooks, range per trip 0.1–5.4) than South African vessels (0.8, range 0.0–4.3; 17% effort observed), possibly as a result of gear differences. Bird bycatch differed regionally in relation to the numbers of birds attending vessels. In international waters off the Northern Cape and southern Namibia, where there are few birds, only one bird was caught on 93 600 hooks (0.01 birds per 1 000 hooks). Shy Thalassarche cauta, black-browed T. melanophris and yellow-nosed T. chlororhynchos albatrosses, and white-chinned petrels Procellaria aequinoctialis were killed most frequently. Based on 1998–1999 fishing effort, simple extrapolation suggests that 19 000–30 000 seabirds are killed annually in South Africa's EEZ, of which 70% are albatrosses. Confidence in these estimates is low, given the small proportion of effort observed, but it is clear that urgent steps are needed to reduce seabird bycatch within South African waters.

Review and evaluation of three mitigation measures—bird-scaring line, underwater setting and line shooter—to reduce seabird bycatch in the north Atlantic longline fishery

Seabirds scavenge baits from the hooks of commercial longlines, resulting in incidental seabird mortality and bait loss. As interactions between seabirds and longline fishing may cause seabird populations to decline and reduce gear efficiency, the potential of various mitigation measures to solve this problem has been tested. Four fishing experiments were conducted in commercial longlining in the north Atlantic to investigate the effectiveness of a bird-scaring line, underwater setting and a line shooter in reducing seabird bycatch during longline setting. These results are reviewed and the performance of the mitigation measures is evaluated. The great majority of the birds caught were northern fulmars ( Fulmarus glacialis). Accidental catches of birds were reduced by all three methods, most clearly by the bird-scaring line. A total of 185 000 hooks were set with this mitigation measure in place, and only two birds were caught compared with 205 for control lines with a similar number of hooks set without any mitigation measure. The experiments also reduced bait loss and increased target species catch rates when mitigation measures were used. Increased catch rates are important incentives for fishermen to employ mitigation measures. It is concluded that the bird-scaring line is the most feasible and effective mitigation measure in the north Atlantic longline fishery, and the results reviewed should have relevance to longline fisheries worldwide in which interactions with Fulmarus spp. occur.

Reducing incidental mortality of seabirds with an underwater longline setting funnel

A demersal longline fishery for Patagonian toothfish ( Dissostichus eleginoides) that commenced off the Prince Edward Islands during 1996 has killed significant proportions of locally breeding albatrosses and petrels. As one of a suite of mitigation measures, we tested the efficacy of a Mustad underwater setting funnel to reduce incidental mortality of seabirds. The funnel, which deploys the longline 1–2 m beneath the sea surface, was used on 52% of 1714 sets (total effort 5.12 million hooks) over a 2-year period. Used in conjunction with a bird-scaring line, overall seabird bycatch rate was low (0.022 birds per 1000 hooks), and was dominated by white-chinned petrels ( Procellaria aequinoctialis) (88% of the 114 birds killed). Bycatch rate was three times lower when the funnel was used both by day and at night. Daytime catch rates with the funnel were less than those attained during night sets without the funnel. In conjunction with other mitigation measures, underwater setting offers a significant reduction in seabird mortality in this fishery and could increase fishing efficiency by allowing daytime setting. However, small numbers of albatrosses were caught during daytime sets with the funnel, and its use for daytime sets should be closely monitored.

Integrated management to address the incidental mortality of seabirds in longline fisheries

Abstract1. Of the myriad of anthropogenic and natural threats to seabirds, one of the most critical global problems is incidental mortality in longline fisheries. Hesitance or failure by fishery managers and longline industries to adequately address this acute problem could result in the extinction of several albatross and petrel species within our lifetimes.2. An integrated management approach is needed to comprehensively manage longline fisheries to address seabird bycatch. A review of relevant multilateral accords, declarations and actions by regional and international organizations reveals the need to augment international collaboration, especially to address pirate longline fishing. Management authorities and stakeholders need to collaborate to: promote adoption and compliance with effective legally binding accords that cover the ranges of all affected seabirds; ensure that all Range States and relevant distant water fishing nations become contracting parties to these accords; coordinate national implementation of the Food and Agriculture Organization's International Plan of Action on seabirds; set management goals; establish and implement policies to employ seabird deterrent measures; disseminate information on new deterrent measures; locally tailor seabird deterrent measures; standardize data reporting and establish a centralized data repository; coordinate research and monitoring; develop regional surveillance and enforcement systems; and augment less developed countries' capacity and resources to mitigate seabird and longline fishery interactions.3. Establishing protected areas containing seabird colonies and adjacent waters within a nation's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) is potentially an expedient method to reduce interactions between seabirds and longline fisheries. However, establishing high seas marine protected areas to restrict longline fishing in seabird foraging areas, which would require extensive and dynamic boundaries and large buffer zones, may not be a viable short‐term solution due to the long time it is anticipated it could take to resolve legal complications with international treaties, to achieve international consensus and political will, and to acquire requisite extensive resources for surveillance and enforcement. High seas marine protected areas may eventually become a feasible mechanism to address seabird bycatch if nations develop the will to close ocean areas to commercial fisheries to attempt to rehabilitate depleted pelagic fish stocks.4. Direct involvement of longline industries, through partnerships with national governments and regional organizations, to develop seabird mitigation measures and policies prescribing the use of these measures, is critical. Direct involvement of stakeholders to find solutions to resource management problems leads to stakeholder groups taking ownership of and supporting rules. Bottom‐up approaches are successful in changing interest groups' attitudes and behaviour, to maximize voluntary compliance and minimize conflict and resources required for enforcement.5. Data gaps must be filled and scientific uncertainty addressed through multilateral collaboration. Research to develop and improve practicable mitigation measures is most urgently needed. Information on the status and trends of albatross populations, where albatrosses forage, the causes of population declines, seabird mortality rates and levels in each longline fishery, and the type of impacts from longlining on seabird populations is also needed. It is well documented that several seabird species are at risk of extinction, incidental bycatch in longline fisheries significantly contributes to many species' decline, and proven mitigation measures are available. Thus, while additional research is critically needed, we should not delay taking precautionary action to wait for additional information, but should immediately act to protect seabirds from the known acute threat of mortality in longline fisheries. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.