Sebastián Jiménez (Laboratorio de Recursos Pelágicos, Dirección Nacional de Recursos Acuáticos, Montevideo, Uruguay) and colleagues have published in the journal Biodiversity and Conservation on effects of bird-scaring lines and branch line weighting on catch rates of fish, turtles and seals.

The paper’s abstract follows:

“Fisheries bycatch is one of main conservation problems for many threatened seabirds.  Currently, it is unknown whether existing best practices to mitigate seabird bycatch in pelagic longline fisheries influence the capture of other vulnerable taxa.  We assessed the effect of two seabird mitigation measures for pelagic longline fisheries on 13 threatened, protected and/or bycaught species, including elasmobranchs, teleosts, sea turtles and fur seals.  Analyses were from two experimental studies in Uruguay assessing the effect of a bird scaring line (BSL) and branch lines with weights close to the hooks (weighted branch lines) on these taxa.  One hundred longline sets with randomized use of a BSL were deployed.  In turn, 224 paired longline sections, with control branch lines versus weighted branch lines, were deployed. BSL use did not increase the capture of any of the species addressed.  No detectable differences in capture rate were recorded in our branch line weighting study.  However, the effect of branch line weighting in the capture of Porbeagle shark (Lamna nasus) remains unclear and requires further research.  Our study suggests that effective measures to reduce seabird bycatch in pelagic longline have no negative connotations for other vulnerable species.  Caution should be exercised when interpreting our results as analyses were underpowered to detect small and subtle differences in the catch rates.  We strongly encourage researchers to conduct similar studies to elucidate potential regional and across fisheries differences in the effect of seabird mitigation measures in other vulnerable taxa, as well as the effect that mitigation measures for other taxa may have on seabirds.”

Bird-scaring lines deployed behind a fishing vessel, photograph by Ed Melvin

With thanks to Sebastián Jiménez.

Reference:

Jiménez, S., Forselledo, R., Domingo, A 2019.  Effects of best practices to reduce seabird bycatch in pelagic longline fisheries on other threatened, protected and bycaught megafauna species.  Biodiversity and Conservation  doi.org/10.1007/s10531-019-01842-4 -4.

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 04 September 2019

Agustina Quadri Adrogué (Laboratorio de Ecotoxicología y Contaminación Ambiental, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, Argentina) and colleagues have published in the Marine Pollution Bulletin on levels of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) in Black-browed Albatrosses Thalassarche melanophris and Pintado or Cape Petrels Daption capense.

The paper’s abstract follows:

“Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) are accumulated through time and can exert different effect on ecosystems.  POPs and Chlorpyrifos, a current use pesticide, were assessed in body feathers of males and females of Blackbrowed albatross (Thalassarche melanophris, BBA) and Cape petrels (Daption capense, CAP) during their nonbreeding seasons at the Patagonian Shelf, Argentina.  Chlorpyrifos showed the highest values among all pollutants in both species (49.56–84.88 ng g−1), resulting from current agricultural practices.  The pattern OCPs>PCBs>PBDEs was observed in both species, and CAP showed higher concentrations than BBA probably as a consequence of higher lipid mobilization and pollutants availability during dispersion.  Non-significant differences between sexes about POPs levels were found; however a slight tendency was observed, females> males in CAP, and males>females in BBA.  More attention and further studies are needed to understand seabirds' physiology and its relationship with the pollutants distribution in their tissues and considering breeding season.”

Black-browed Albatrosses, photograph by Graham Robertson

Reference:

Quadri Adrogué, A., Miglioranza, K.S.B., Copello, S., Favero, M. & Seco Pon, J.P. 2019.  Pelagic seabirds as biomonitors of persistent organic pollutants in the Southwestern Atlantic.  Marine Pollution Bulletin doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2019.110516.

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 03 September 2019

Applications are sought for project funding that will assist the Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels (ACAP) meet its objective of achieving and maintaining a favourable conservation status for albatrosses and petrels.  Total funding of approximately AUD 115 000 is available for allocation (click here).

Applications must be submitted on an ACAP Small Grants Application Form.

When assessing project applications, preference will be given to projects that address elements of the Advisory Committee Work Programme (see Annex 4, AC11 Report) and any research priorities identified by the AC Working Groups (see AC11 Doc 09 and AC11 Doc 10).  Innovative proposals making a substantive contribution to the Agreement’s objective will also be considered.

Applicants are encouraged to contact the relevant Working Group Convenors or the Advisory Committee Chair to discuss the development and relevance of their application to ensure it addresses the requirements of the AC Work Programme.

Applications close on 25 October 2019.  Applications will only be accepted from ACAP Parties.  Completed applications (in any of the three Agreement languages – English, French or Spanish) are to be submitted to relevant ACAP National Contact Points, who will then forward them to the ACAP Secretariat by the 25 October deadline.

Applicants will be advised of the outcome of their applications by 21 February 2020.

Incubating Tristan Albatross (Critically Endangered) on Inaccessible Island in 2012; photograph by Katrine Herian

ACAP Secretariat, 02 September 2019

Chile is a key country for seabird conservation globally.  Its nutrient-rich waters are home to important albatross, petrel and shearwater breeding colonies, as well as foraging areas for seabirds of conservation concern from other parts of the Pacific Ocean.  The Humboldt Current System off the coast of Chile is also host to important artisanal and industrial fisheries, including purse-seine fleets targeting forage fish and trawl fleets targeting Chilean Hake Merluccius gayi and Hoki Macruronus magellanicus.

Since the inception of the Albatross Task Force in Chile in 2007, BirdLife International’s Marine Programme (BIMP) and CODEFF – Chile (Comité Pro-Defensa de la Flora Y Fauna) have supported a dedicated team of bycatch mitigation experts with the aim of demonstrating how to reduce seabird bycatch on board fishing vessels.

Among the most bycaught seabirds in Chile are ACAP-listed species such as the Black-browed Thalassarche melanophris and Vulnerable Salvin’s T. salvini Albatrosses (in trawl fleets) and the Vulnerable Pink-footed Shearwater Ardenna creatopus, a Chilean breeding endemic, in purse-seine fisheries.  The list also includes other species with decreasing populations, such as the Near Threatened Sooty Shearwater A. grisea (click here).

Over the years, new bridges have been built between the Albatross Task Force in Chile and the fishing industry. This has been made possible thanks to the collaboration of the Association of Industrial Fisheries of Chile (La Asociación de Industriales Pesqueros, ASIPES), made up of six purse-seine and trawl companies with c. 6500 employees in one of the largest fishing regions in south-central Chile.

This ongoing collaboration has culminated in BIMP and ASIPES signing a cooperation agreement this month, aimed at promoting and implementing the use of seabird bycatch mitigation measures in the fleets that fall under ASIPES, as well as training fishing crews in best practices on land and at sea, including waste management, safely handling and rescuing seabirds, and avoiding fishing gear discards, amongst others.

 Esteban Frere (BirdLife International Marine Programme) and Macarena Cepeda, President, ASIPES sign the agreement, photographs by Jose Luis Saavreda

"...This is the first agreement of its kind between a productive fishing association and this type of organization to encourage the implementation of best practices on board..." (Macarena Cepeda, President, ASIPES)

"...This agreement is very important, as it seeks [to expand] the joint work between an NGO and the fishing industry towards finding best practices..." (Esteban Frere, BirdLife International Marine Programme).

“…It is an important advance, since this collaboration is aligned with the requirements of SERNAPESCA [Servicio Nacional de Pesca y Acuicultura, Chile] to reduce discards and bycatch.  This allows us to have more environmentally-friendly fisheries...” (Claudio Báez, Director, National Fisheries and Aquaculture Service, SERNAPESCA-Biobío).

The commitments outlined in the cooperation agreement encompass a wide range of ideas and activities to support the use of best practices in these fisheries in the long-term.  The first step was the recognition of the seabird bycatch problem in fisheries.  Moving forward, there is now an opportunity to identify alternatives and reduce our impacts on seabird populations through this inclusive and collaborative initiative.

Read an account of the signing of the cooperation agreement in Spanish here.

Cristián G. Suazo, Albatross Task Force – Chile, BirdLife International, 30 August 2019