The presence of "free" food in the form of offal and bait attracts many birds to fishing operations. In past years, more than 20,000 seabirds were hooked annually in groundfish fisheries off Alaska.
The presence of "free" food in the form of offal and bait attracts many birds to fishing operations. In past years, more than 20,000 seabirds were hooked annually in groundfish fisheries off Alaska. Most birds taken during longline operations are attracted to the baited hooks when the gear is being set. These birds become hooked at the surface, and are then dragged underwater where they drown. Out of the total number of birds hooked, 75 percent are northern fulmars and gulls, although most regulatory and conservation attention is focused on bycatch of the endangered short-tailed albatross. With the use of seabird avoidance measures (e.g. paired and single streamer lines), seabird bycatch has been reduced four-fold.
Required to be used by operators of all vessels greater than 26 feet in length overall using hook-and-line gear while fishing for:
Other than noted above, vessel operators using hook-and-line gear and fishing for groundfish in waters off the state of Alaska must refer to seabird avoidance measures in state regulations. See 5AAC 28.055.
Exemptions from Seabird Avoidance Measures Include Hook-and-Line Vessels:
South of a straight line at 56°17.25 N. lat. between Point Harris and Port Armstrong in Chatham Strait,
State statistical areas 325431 and 325401, and
West of a straight line at 136°21.17 E. long. from Point Wimbledon extending south through the Inian Islands to Point Lavinia.
Diagram of areas exempt from seabird avoidance requirements (PDF, 2 pages).
The type of "bird scaring line" you are required to use depends on the area you fish, the length of your vessel, the superstructure of your vessel, and the type of hook-and-line gear you use (e.g. snap gear). See Table 20 and the actual regulations at 50 CFR Part 679.24(e)(2) for specific requirements.
Fishermen using hook-and-line gear in groundfish and halibut fisheries off Alaska are now providing their own streamer lines*. Commercially available streamer lines for Alaska fisheries can be found through the LFSI, (800) 647-2135.
*A limited number of free streamer lines are available, please contact Josh Moffi for more information.
We continue to be concerned about the endangered short-tailed albatross; the world population is estimated at just under 6,000 birds. We ask that you report all observations of short-tailed albatross to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. In the rare event that you accidentally hook a short-tailed albatross, we need to know that, too!
If a short-tailed albatross is injured or sick:
Fisheries observers or—if no observer is on board—boat captains are responsible for carrying out these instructions.
1. Call the Alaska SeaLife Center hotline at (888) 774-7325 or (907) 224-6395.
2. Report to U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service at (800) 858-7621 or (907) 271-2888.
3. Retain live birds in a safe location.
4. Surrender it as soon as possible (alive or dead) as directed by the U.S. FWS.
Reporting a dead short-tailed albatross:
1. Call NOAA Fisheries at (800) 853-1964 or (907) 586-7228, or
2. Call U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service at (800) 858-7621 or (907) 271-2888.
3. Immediately freeze any dead short-tailed albatross (if freezing is not available, keep it as cold as possible).
4. Label with vessel name, latitude and longitude where hooked, and the numbers and colors of any leg bands (leg bands must be left attached).
Live birds should be released on site if they meet all of the following criteria:
If criteria for release are not met, contact the Alaska SeaLife Center stranded animal hotline: (888) 774-7325 or (907) 224-6395.
If you hook birds while hauling gear and they come on board alive make every reasonable effort to ensure that they are released alive.
Whenever possible, remove hooks without jeopardizing the life of the bird:
Wrap the bird’s wings and feet with a clean towel to protect its feathers from oils or damage. Protect yourself from the bird’s beak—wear eye protection and heavy gloves.
Use pliers (or bolt cutters) to cut off the hook or flatten the barb. Pull the hook back out of the bird.
Cut the line as close to the point of entry as possible and leave the hook in the bird.
Oceanic whitetip shark. Hawaiʻi longline fishermen use leaders to connect weighed branch lines and baited hooks. A new rule prohibits steel wire leaders in the Hawaiʻi deep-set longline fishery, starting May 31, 2022. The rule aims to increase the survival of hooked oceanic whitetip sharks caught as bycatch in the Pacific Islands region. Credit: Andy Mann
Pink salmon. Credit: NOAA
