Bird-Friendly Fishing Techniques to Help Reduce Massive Number of Albatross Deaths

100,000 albatrosses are killed every year due to longline fishing activities – and four species of albatross are now critically endangered. Simple changes in fishing techniques can give these birds a chance.

Longline fishing is having a devastating effect on albatross populations. In order to catch species such as tuna and swordfish, longline fishing boats set fishing lines that can extend 80 miles of hooks into the ocean. Of course, when an albatross swallows the bait, the hook lodges in the bird’s throat. The result is a slow, painful death by drowning as the bird is trapped and dragged under the water.

The staggering death toll combined with the slow reproductive cycle of the albatross has put these birds at significant risk. Fortunately, there are bird-friendly fishing techniques that can reduce the number of albatross deaths.

Taking steps to help the albatross

Save the Albatross recommends implementing simple, bird-friendly fishing practices to help reduce albatross deaths:

• Use bird scaring devices such as streamer lines attached to the stern of the boats to scare birds away from baited hooks
• Weight fishing lines so that the baited hooks sink more quickly
• Use bait that has been dyed blue, which makes it harder for birds to see in the water
• Set fishing lines only at night because most albatrosses feed by day
• Use special chutes to release the fishing lines deep under water

Death rate is compounded by slow reproductive rate

Although the albatross has life span of 60 years, it is doubtful that many of the birds are surviving that long. The albatross also has a slow reproductive cycle:

• Albatrosses choose a mate and then they stick together for life. If their partner is killed, they may take years to find another – indeed they may never find a replacement
• Having fledged and flown for the first time, albatross chicks will not return to land for many years. In the case of royal albatrosses, this may be up to five years
• Young albatrosses may not begin breeding until they are 10 years old
• Low reproductive rate – they produce just one egg each breeding season – and the fact that many species will only breed once every two years, means these birds are being killed faster than they can ever re-populate

The four critically endangered species of albatross

1. Amsterdam Albatross (Diomedea amsterdamensis)
2. Tristan Albatross (Diomedea dabbenena)
3. Waved Albatross (Phoebastria irrorata)
4. Chatham Albatross (Thalassarche eremita)

In addition to the four critically endangered species, there are six species of albatross classified as endangered: Northern Royal Albatross, Black-fotted Albatross, Sooty Albatross, Indian Yellow-nosed Albatross, Atlantic Yellow-nosed Albatross and Black-browed Albatross.

Although longline fishing activities pose the biggest threat to albatross populations, other problems include reduction of space on remote islands where they breed, pollution, and invasive species.

Image source: istock.com