Publications

Threat Abatement Plan for the Incidental Catch (or by-catch) of Seabirds During Oceanic Longline Fishing Operations

Prepared by
Biodiversity Group Environment Australia in consultation with the Threat Abatement Team
Environment Australia, 1998
ISBN 0 642 21420 4

Executive Summary

Oceanic longline fishing is a technique used to target pelagic and demersal finfish and shark species. Longline fishing commenced in the southern oceans in the 1950's, and longline fisheries operate in almost all Australian waters today. The impact of longline fishing activities on seabirds was not fully realised until the 1980's when seabird by-catch was first reported and then documented.

The incidental catch (or by-catch) of seabirds during oceanic longline fishing operations was listed as a key threatening process on Schedule 3 of the Endangered Species Protection Act 1992 on 24 July 1995. The Act requires the preparation and implementation of a threat abatement plan for nationally coordinated action to alleviate the impact of longline fishing activities on seabirds in Australian waters. This Threat Abatement Plan has been prepared to meet the requirements of the Act.

The objective of this Plan is to reduce seabird by-catch in all fishing areas, seasons or fisheries to below 0.05 seabirds per thousand hooks, based on current fishing levels. This represents a reduction of up to 90% of seabird by-catch within the Australian Fishing Zone, and should be achievable within the five year life of this Plan. The ultimate aim of the threat abatement process is to achieve a zero by-catch of seabirds, especially threatened albatross and petrel species, in longline fisheries. However, using currently available mitigation methods, it is not possible to achieve this goal in the short term.

The Plan aims to significantly reduce the by-catch of seabirds during oceanic longline operations in the Australian Fishing Zone within 5 years by:

• prescribing the appropriate modifications to fishing practices or equipment (mitigation measures);
• providing for development of new mitigation measures;
• educating fishers and the public; and
• collecting information necessary to improve knowledge of seabird-longline fishery interactions.

Specific actions in the plan prescribe the mitigation measures which must be used by domestic and foreign longline vessels in longline fisheries, fishing areas and fishing seasons to minimise the by-catch of seabirds.

Below is a summary of the estimated costs to the Commonwealth associated with implementing actions outlined in the Plan. Note that there are some costs that will be determined at later stages.