Sometimes during regular fishing operations, seabirds accidentally get caught in fishing gear, resulting in injury or death. While this occurrence (also known as bycatch) is unfortunate, it does provide an opportunity to monitor seabird population characteristics and trends over time.
Sometimes during regular fishing operations, seabirds accidentally get caught in fishing gear, resulting in injury or death. While this occurrence (also known as bycatch) is unfortunate, it does provide an opportunity to monitor seabird population characteristics and trends over time.
Observers deployed by the North Pacific, Pacific Islands and At-Sea Hake Observer Programs collect seabird bycatch. NOAA’s National Seabird Program works with the nonprofit organization Oikonos to conduct seabird necropsies. Collection of albatross, shearwater, and fulmar carcasses would be impossible without the cooperation of fishermen, observers, and observer program staff members.
From September 2017 to August 2018, Oikonos sampled a total of 206 seabird carcasses. Scientists and volunteers worked together to:
- Identify bird species, age, sex, and health status.
- Complete a variety of important measurements.
- Support seabird diet studies through the analysis of seabird stomach contents.
Continue reading at NOAA Fisheries.
Image via NOAA Fisheries.
