Incidental catch of seabirds: strengthening observer programs and increasing cooperation

Huang, Hsin-Hsiung; Yeh, Y-M

doi:10.1111/acv.12044

Cited by 2 publications

(1 citation statement)

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“…Should the empirical evidence indicate the need for mitigation, more robust management outcomes would be likely through collaboration between researchers, fisheries management, and the fishing industry. Cooperative development of mitigation strategies, alongside the fishing industry, that are not just effective for albatrosses but practical and safe to fishing crews, are likely to result in higher compliance levels (Huang and Yeh 2013). Additionally, in comparison to seabird by-catch in longline fisheries, addressing this issue in trawl fisheries represents little incentive to fishermen to trigger voluntary uptake of solutions.…”

Section: Research Needs and Recommendationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evidence is required to address potential albatross mortality in the New South Wales Ocean Trawl fishery.

Gallo-Cajiao¹

2014

Pac. Conserv. Biol.

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To examine the current management of trawl fisheries is important to ensure albatross mortality is not being overlooked. By-catch of albatrosses in trawl fisheries occurs cryptically, which has hindered the development of conservation policy. The implementation of tasked seabird observer programmes in trawl fisheries, nevertheless, has shown that albatross mortality can happen at threatening levels. Consequently, mitigation measures have been developed and adopted in some trawl fisheries. Despite this, some trawl fisheries lack clear policy in relation to albatross mortality. In this context, I investigated the management of potential albatross mortality in a state trawl fishery, the New South Wales Ocean Trawl, in Australia. I conducted a literature search and addressed a set of questions to the responsible management agency through questions on notice at the State Parliament of New South Wales to understand albatross interactions from a policy standpoint. My results indicate that current policy neither encompasses albatross mortality nor is evidence-based. However, the combination of characteristics of this fishery and its overlap with albatross occurrence, along with the reported albatross mortality from other trawl fisheries, may warrant the need to collect empirical evidence on potential albatross interactions. Hence, the responsible management agency should take action according to legal obligations. In this scenario, I recommend the implementation of a tasked seabird observer programme, collection of baseline data, and adoption of adaptive management by the examined fishery. As uncertainty can hamper conservation efforts because management actions require evidence, it is imperative to fill current information gaps in this fishery. Additionally, an improved understanding of albatross mortality from individual trawl fisheries across different fisheries management jurisdictions will enable the prioritization of conservation efforts of this avian taxon in an international and multi-gear fishing context.

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Section: Research Needs and Recommendationsmentioning

confidence: 99%