Paper: The incidental catch of seabirds in gillnet fisheries— A global review

Seabird populations are declining worldwide. This paper looks at the impact of gillnets on bird populations.

Greater scaup (Aythya marila). Photo by Donna Dewhurst, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Greater scaup (Aythya marila). Photo by Donna Dewhurst, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

[Editor's note: This global review on seabird bycatch in gillnet fisheries has some similarities for the Salish Sea, where bycatch may be down due to reduced gillnet fisheries. However, better data are needed to quantify the impact to diving birds in the Salish Sea.] 

The incidental catch of seabirds in gillnet fisheries: A global review. Biological Conservation. June 2013, Volume 162, Pages 76-88.

Summary:

Compared to other birds, seabird populations worldwide are declining rapidly. One of the reasons may be accidental bycatch by fisheries. Gillnets are known to be a major cause of seabird mortality, but worldwide data is sparse. The authors identify the most susceptible species, review existing data, and identify data gaps, potential conservation measures, and areas where action is most needed.

View the paper's abstract.

Authors: 

Zydelis R, Small C, French G.