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.
