The journal Fisheries Research is calling for papers on bycatch in the world’s tuna fisheries, following a workshop that brought together the five tuna Regional Fisheries Management Organizations and other bycatch experts in January 2025.

“The worlds tuna fisheries total landings are estimated to be 5.2 million metric tons and worth about $40.8 billion US dollars (in 2018).  Tuna fisheries also generate a substantial amount of bycatch including cetaceans, sharks and rays, sea turtles, as well as sea birds.  As part of the Food and Agricultural Organization’s Common Oceans Project, Scientists and Managers from all five tuna Regional Fisheries Management Organizations, and other bycatch experts met in Rome, January 27-29, 2025 for a workshop on bycatch in the world’s tuna fisheries.”

The goal of the planned Special Issue is to bring together key papers presented at the Common Oceans Tuna Project Workshop on bycatch in tuna fisheries as well as any papers not presented at the workshop but that related to the focus topics for the special issue.  Contributions will include all aspects of bycatch in global tuna fisheries, including but not limited to the following topics.

1. Data collection and quality

• Challenges in data availability and quality.
• Advances in data collection methods (e.g., electronic monitoring systems).
• Comparing data sources (e.g., fishery observers, logbooks, EMS) and types (e.g., fisheries-dependent and fisheries-independent data)
• Sampling designs

2. Methodologies and analytical approaches

• Approaches and methodologies to model bycatch data.
• Designing of experimental studies on bycatch and mitigation measures
• Estimates of mortality and population-level effects.

3. Mitigation measures

• Approaches and efficiency of mitigation measures, including fishing gear changes
• Other approaches such as bycatch handling practices, trade bans, etc.
• Efficacy of time-area closures, MPAs, and dynamic spatiotemporal management.

4. Management aspects

• Management of bycatch at tuna-RFMOs level
• Management from other organizations (e.g., CITES, CMS, etc.)
• Multispecies trade-offs related with management measures

5. Socio-economic aspects

• Socioeconomic and economic issues related to bycatch mitigation measures.
• Role of fisher engagement in implementing mitigation measures

6. Future directions and research needs

• Novel methods for data collection and analysis on bycatch species
• Defining biological reference points for data-limited bycatch species
• Multi-species models and assessments for bycatch species

“All manuscripts will be peer-reviewed.  Submissions will be evaluated based on originality, significance, technical quality, and clarity.  “Once accepted, articles will be posted online immediately and published in a journal regular issue within weeks.   will also be simultaneously collected in the online special issue.

The deadline for submissions is 31 March 2026.  Read more abiut the planned Special Issue and the submission process here.

With thanks to Richard Phillips.

John Cooper, Emeritus Information Officer, Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels, 29 December 2025

Fall out of 636 Wedge-tailed Shearwaters on the Hawaiian island of Oahu in 2024, from the report

A 174-page report from the state of Hawaii’s Dark Night Skies Protection Advisory Committee released this month proposes to regulate artificial light use in the state’s inhabited islands, inter alia to reduce harmful effects on breeding seabirds. The report lists eight species, all burrowing procellariiforms, that breed on Hawaiian Islands and are considered highly vulnerable to light pollution.  They are:

Newell’s Shearwater Puffinus newelli (Critically Endangered)
Hawaiian Petrel Pterodroma sandwichensis (Endangered)
Bonin Petrel Pterodroma hypoleuca (Least Concern)
Bulwer’s Petrel Bulweria bulweri (Least Concern)
Wedge-tailed Shearwater Ardenna pacifica (Least Concern)
Christmas Shearwater Puffinus nativitatis (Least Concern)
Band-rumped Storm Petrel Oceanodroma [Hydrobates] castro (Least Concern)
Tristram’s Storm Petrel Oceanodroma [Hydrobates] tristrami (Least Concern)

A downed Newell’s Shearwater gets released on the Hawaiian Island of Kauai in 2017, photograph by Hob Osterlund

The report states: “These seabirds use natural light from the moon and stars to navigate to sea to foraging grounds hundreds to thousands of miles away where they feed and spend the majority of their lives, and then to return to their natal colonies to breed.  Artificial lighting disorients them, causing them to circle lights or collide with structures.  Seabirds are drawn to artificial lighting at night, often resulting in “fallout” events where disoriented birds land in unsafe urban environments.  Exhausted or injured grounded birds are vulnerable to predation especially by cats and mongooses, starvation, and fatal collisions with vehicles.  Young seabirds, particularly during their first journey to sea at fledging, are especially at risk of disorientation, but adult birds may also be impacted by artificial lighting and end up grounded.  This phenomenon is exacerbated by increasing coastal development and poorly directed lighting.”

To reduce the impact of artificial light on seabirds, the following strategies are recommended in the report:

Dimming and Shielding Lights.  Shield exterior lighting to direct light downward and eliminate unnecessary skyward or seaward projections; dim lighting near sensitive areas, especially during peak fallout or migration periods.

Low Blue Content Lighting.  Use lights with warmer colours and lower colour temperatures (amber or red).

Predator Control.  Support predator control programmes to manage populations of feral cats and mongooses which prey on grounded seabirds, particularly during breeding and fledging.

Seasonal Adjustments and Community Engagement.  Encourage “Lights Out” campaigns during fledging periods; implement targeted community education programmes, such as the “Save Our Shearwaters” initiative, to reduce non-essential lighting at night.

Motion Sensors and Timers.  Install motion-sensor lighting in facilities near nesting and migratory hotspots to minimize unnecessary illumination, use automatic dimmers or timers to reduce light exposure during late-night hours.

Coastal Development Considerations:  Modify building designs in coastal areas to minimize skyglow and shield lighting during fledging seasons.

“By adopting these mitigation strategies, Hawai’i can significantly reduce the adverse effects of artificial lighting on both seabird and migratory bird populations, while also addressing predation threats.  These measures will help preserve vulnerable species and maintain the ecological balance of the islands.”

Close to fledging: a Hawaiian Petrel in the hand

The report proposes regulations that are situation-dependent, meaning the standards would not be a “one-size fits all” method.  The suggested next steps include tracking low traffic times for areas like parks and beaches to see if timers or dimmed lights would be effective in saving energy.  Committee members say the report is for information and discussion purposes and could be used by state lawmakers to shape future legislation, but no official legislation is being proposed.  The report will now be submitted to the State Legislature.

Access over a hundred previous articles in ACAP Latest News on the widespread effects of light pollution on burrowing petrels and shearwaters around the world.

John Cooper, Emeritus Information Officer, Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels, 26 December 2025

As 2025 ends, the ACAP Secretariat extends its warm seasonal greetings and best wishes for the New Year to all ACAP Officials, their partners, as well as to all ACAP researchers, supporters and followers for their work on and interest in the conservation of albatrosses and petrels.

Preparations have begun for next year’s World Albatross Day (the seventh) to be celebrated on 19 June.  The theme for WAD 2026 will be “Habitat Restoration”, as has already been announced.  As in previous years there will be photo and art posters, artworks from Artists & Biologists Unite for Nature (ABUN) and seven related articles in ACAP Latest News for ‘WADWEEK2026’.

New ACAP Species Infographics in support of WAD2026 are being produced for the Endangered Atlantic Yellow-nosed Albatross Thalassarche chlororhynchos and the Vulnerable Chatham Albatross T. eremita; the latter sponsored by the New Zealand Department of Conservation.  These two infographics will be the 22nd and 23rd in the 31 ACAP-listed species series.

The Fifteenth Meeting of ACAP’s Advisory Committee (AC15) and its working groups will be held from 25 May to 5 June 2026 in Swakopmund, Namibia (read more here).

The ACAP Secretariat based in Hobart, Tasmania is taking a short break over the festive period from today, returning on Monday, 5 January 2026.

The ACAP Secretariat, 24 December 2025

 RSV Nuyina at Heard Island in October 2025, photograph by Simon Payne

Australia’s icebreaker, RSV Nuyina, has visited Heard Island for the second time this year, this time for a 25-day science and environmental management visit.  The ship spent 10 days at the World Heritage-listed Heard Island in October.  “V1 was a quick visit to lay the foundations for V2 and capture some key data points early in the wildlife season”.  V2 is a 25-day programme, giving more time to collect samples and data.

On V1, samples were taken from Southern Elephant Seals Mirounga leonina after a large number of dead pups was found on Heard Island’s south coast.  These samples tested positive for the highly contagious H5 bird flu (Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, click here).  By the time V2 reached the island, the elephant seals would have finished breeding, but fur seals and seabirds would have started.  A key focus for wildlife biologists will be looking at whether H5 bird flu is now impacting other species and assessing the spread of the virus on the island.

“During V2 we will assess for any signs and symptoms of H5 bird flu in other species, collect further samples for virus confirmation and assess the population sizes of priority species so the short-term and long-term impacts of the virus can be assessed,” wildlife biologist Dr Julie McInnes said.

A Black-browed Albatross feeds its chick on Heard Island, photograph by Roger Kirkwood

Heard Island supports breeding populations of ACAP-listed Black-browed Albatrosses Thalassarche melanophris, Light-mantled Sooty Albatrosses Phoebetria palpebrata and Southern Giant Petrels Macronectes giganteus. (click here).

Read more on V2 here.

John Cooper, Emeritus Information Officer, Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels, 23 December 2025