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

1. Introduction

This Threat Abatement Plan has been written to meet the Commonwealth Government's obligations under the Endangered Species Protection Act 1992 following listing of the incidental catch (or by-catch) of seabirds during oceanic longline fishing operations as a key threatening process on Schedule 3 of the Act on 24 July 1995.

Management of seabird by-catch in longline fisheries requires a long term approach. It is highly desirable from a conservation and fisheries sustainable management point of view for there to be no by-catch of seabirds in longline fisheries. 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 primary objective of this Plan is to reduce the seabird by-catch in longline fisheries to below 0.05 birds per thousand hooks, which represents a reduction of 90% at current fishing levels. Use of currently available mitigation measures should be capable of achieving this within the five year life of this Plan.

Practical implementation of mitigation strategies will enhance the ecological sustainability of longline fishing operations in Australia, which is a key element of the objectives under the Fisheries Management Act 1991. The Plan outlines actions which implement available mitigation measures effective in reducing seabird by-catch, provide for development of new measures or improvements to existing measures, educate fishers about threat mitigation and collect information to support future management decisions.

It is important to note that this plan is binding on the Commonwealth and its agencies. As such the prescriptions outlined in this plan are limited to Australian waters outside of coastal State waters. Commonwealth waters include only a small portion of the oceans being fished with longlines where seabirds are being caught. The plan encourages complementary action in State waters and on the High Seas and within the exclusive economic zones of countries where longline fishing vessels operate.