How does longline fishing threaten albatrosses and other seabirds?

Longline fishing poses a significant threat to albatrosses and other seabirds primarily through the accidental capture of these birds as bycatch.

Longlines consist of heavy fishing lines that can stretch for miles and are equipped with numerous baited hooks, which may be set near the surface or the seafloor depending on the target species. Seabirds are often drawn to the bait on these hooks, leading to two primary fatal outcomes:12
* Hooking: Birds are snagged by the hooks while attempting to feed on the bait.1
* Entanglement: Birds become trapped in the fishing lines, which can lead to death or severe injury.1

Because these fishing operations often do not discriminate between target species and other marine life, seabirds are frequently killed in large numbers. This mortality is considered a substantial factor in threatening many species with extinction.2

To mitigate these risks, conservation efforts have introduced several technical solutions, such as adding weights to lines to keep them at safer depths, using bird-scaring lines to deter birds from reaching the bait, and developing specialized hooks that only set underwater.2