The 16th meeting of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) agreed that all longline vessels in the Indian Ocean will be required to use two of the following three seabird bycatch mitigation measures: bird streamers, which scare birds away from the hooks; weights added to hooks to make them sink more quickly; or the setting of hooks at night, when most birds are less active.
26 April 2012: The 16th meeting of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) took place from 22-26 April 2012, in Fremantle, Australia, agreeing on measures to be implemented by longline vessels in the Indian Ocean, aimed at reducing seabird bycatch. According to BirdLife International, scientists estimate that longline fisheries are the primary reason that 17 of the world’s 22 species of albatrosses are threatened with extinction.
BirdLife reports that, per the IOTC agreement, all longline vessels in the region will be required to use two of the following three seabird bycatch mitigation measures: bird streamers, which scare birds away from the hooks; weights added to hooks to make them sink more quickly; or the setting of hooks at night, when most birds are less active. If appropriately implemented these measures are expected to result in significant reductions in albatross mortality.
The Government of Japan has offered US$20,000 to support training workshops for fishing skippers to help them implement the new requirements. The training will be carried out in collaboration with BirdLife and the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation. [BirdLife Press Release] [Meeting Website]