Chatham Albatross

Species: 

Thalassarche eremita

IUCN Status: 

Critically Endangered
Photo: Graham Robertson, Australian Antarctic Division

Chatham albatross are caught in a variety of longline and trawl fisheries in the southeast Pacific Ocean.  Known mortality from bycatch has been observed in ling demersal and tuna pelagic longline fisheries (Robertson et al 2004) and hake and orange roughy trawl fisheries in the New Zealand Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) (Baird 2004a; 2004b). They have also been caught in the artisanal longline fisheries of Peru.  Seabirds are attracted to fishing vessels due to discards or offal being thrown off the boats. The birds can become caught by hooks or entangled in nets or lines when they dive for bait.  Several changes in fishing gear and methods have been tested to mitigate seabird bycatch mortality.  Streamers, which are attached to the fishing vessel near the line, have been shown to scare birds away and reduce bycatch. Other techniques include, side setting, underwater setting, or weighting of lines; changing the color or smell of the bait; setting gear at night; and thawing bait.    

References

Baird, JS. 2004a. Incidental capture of seabird species in commercial fisheries in New Zealand waters 2000-01. NZ Fisheries Assessment Report 2004/58.

Baird, JS. 2004b. Incidental capture of seabird species in commercial fisheries in New Zealand waters 2001-02. NZ Fisheries Assessment Report 2004/60.

Robertson, CJR, E Bell, P Scofield. 2004. Autopsy report for seabirds killed and returned from New Zealand fisheries, 1 October 2001 to 30 September 2002: birds returned by Ministry of Fisheries observers to the Department of Conservation. DOC Science Internal Series 155. Department of Conservation, Wellington, New Zealand. 

Bycatch Threat: 

Longlines and trawls

Population: 

Around 5,000 breeding pairs
Southeast Pacific; breeds only in a small area of the Chatham Islands of New Zealand

Type: 

Bird

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Related Field Studies

Location Gear Technique Species Results Catch Effect on Target Catch Type Reference
US Northeast and mid-Atlantic Gillnets Seabirds Interactions were highest with shearwaters/fulmars Various N/A Field study in the wild Comprehensive estimates of seabird-fishery interactions for the US Northeast and mid-Atlantic
Bering Sea Hooks-and-Lines Bird-scaring devices, Sub-surface bait setting Seabirds Integrated weight longlines paired with streamer lines eliminated surface foraging and shearwater catch by 97%; integrated weigh longlines reduced surface forager catch rates by 91% and unweighted longlines with paired streamer by 98% Pacific cod Target catch rates were not affected Field study in the wild Integrated weight longlines with paired streamer lines - best practice to prevent seabird bycatch in demersal longline
Canada Gillnets Time area closures Seabirds Closure resulted in increased populations of common murres and auks but a decrease in gulls Cod and Atlantic salmon None reported Summary study Canadian fisheryclosures provide a large-scale test of the impact of gillnet bycatch on seabird populations
Review Gillnets Low profile gillnet Large Cetaceans (maximum length > 7.5 meters), Small Cetaceans (maximum length < 7.5 meters), Pinnipeds, Seabirds, Sea Turtles Summary study Reducing bycatch in gillnets: A sensory ecology perspective
Uruguay Hooks-and-Lines Seabirds Time of year was the largest predictor of interaction between great albatross and longliners swordfish, tuna, sharks n/a Field study in the wild Bycatch of great albatrosses in pelagic longline fisheries in the southwest Atlantic: contributing factors and implications for management
Spanish Mediterranean Hooks-and-Lines Seabirds bycatch increases on non-working days tuna and swordfish n/a Field study in the wild Cory's shearwater by-catch in the Mediterranean Spanish commercial longline fishery: implications for management
Hawaii Hooks-and-Lines Dyed bait Seabirds No effect swordfish n/a Field study in the wild Mitigating seabird bycatch during hauling by pelagic longline vessels
Hawaii Hooks-and-Lines Sub-surface bait setting Seabirds Weighted swivels greater than 65g reduced catch rates swordfish n/a Field study in the wild Mitigating seabird bycatch during hauling by pelagic longline vessels
Hawaii Hooks-and-Lines Alternative leader design Seabirds Shorter leaders had lower catch rate swordfish n/a Field study in the wild Mitigating seabird bycatch during hauling by pelagic longline vessels
South Africa EEZ Hooks-and-Lines Bird-scaring devices, Night sets, Sub-surface bait setting Seabirds Combination of bird-scaring lines, weighted lines, and night sets yielded zero moralities. Tuna and swordfish No effect Field study in the wild Best practice seabird bycatch mitigation for pelagic longline fisheries targeting tuna and related species
South Africa Hooks-and-Lines Night sets Seabirds 0.439 birds/1000 hooks (night) vs. 2 birds/1000 hooks (day) Tuna None reported Field study in the wild Reducing seabird bycatch in the South African joint venture tuna fishery using bird-scaring lines, branch line weighting and nighttime setting of hooks
South Africa Hooks-and-Lines Sub-surface bait setting Seabirds 1.07 birds/1000 hooks (unweighted) vs. 0.06 birds/1000 hooks (weighted) Tuna No detectable affect Field study in the wild Reducing seabird bycatch in the South African joint venture tuna fishery using bird-scaring lines, branch line weighting and nighttime setting of hooks
South Africa Hooks-and-Lines Bird-scaring devices Seabirds Hybrid lines appeared to reduce sea bird attacks, but not statistically conclusive Tuna None reported Field study in the wild Reducing seabird bycatch in the South African joint venture tuna fishery using bird-scaring lines, branch line weighting and nighttime setting of hooks
Global Gillnets Seabirds Summary study The incidental catch of seabirds in gillnet fisheries: A global review
Western North Pacific Hooks-and-Lines Bird-scaring devices Seabirds Number of albatross and shearwater attacks were reduced with paired tori lines. Secondary attacks were also significantly lower with paired tori lines. Tunas and swordfish None reported Field study in the wild Comparison of the effectiveness of paired and single tori lines for preventing bait attacks by seabirds and their bycatch in pelagic longline fisheries
Queensland, Australia Hooks-and-Lines Sub-surface bait setting Seabirds Assumed to benefit Tunas, swordfish and mahi mahi No significant effect Field study in the wild New branch line weighting regimes reduce risk of seabird mortality in the Australian pelagic longline fishery without affecting fish catch
South Africa Hooks-and-Lines Alternative leader design Seabirds None reported Tuna None reported Field study in the wild Safe leads for safe heads: safer line weights for pelagic longline fisheries
Falklands Hooks-and-Lines Sub-surface bait setting Seabirds No bycatch Patagonian toothfish Catch was reduced Field study in the wild Experimental fishing with an "umbrella-and-stones" system to reduce interactions of sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) and seabirds with bottom-set longlines for Patagonian toothfish (Dissostichus eleginoides) in the Southwest Atlantic
Chilean Patagonia Hooks-and-Lines Sub-surface bait setting Seabirds Reduced bycatch to zero Patagonian toothfish CPUE was higher Field study in the wild Significant conservation benefits obtained from the use of a new fishing gear in the Chilean Patagonian toothfish fishery
Southwest Atlantic Hooks-and-Lines Circle hooks Seabirds, Elasmobranchs, Sea Turtles American style longlines - no significant difference in catch rates for blue or porbeagle sharks, seabirds or sea turtles. Spanish style longline - significant decrease in pelagic stingray catch rates on circle hooks, no significant differences in catch Tuna Albacore catches increased with circle hooks on both types of longline. Shortfin mako shark catch rates increased with circle hooks on the American style longlines. Field study in the wild Circle hook performance in the Uruguayan pelagic longline fishery
South Africa Hooks-and-Lines Sub-surface bait setting Seabirds Weighted branch lines with hybrid streamer lines reduced seabird mortalities by 86% compared to unweighted branch lines. Tuna No effect Field study in the wild Preliminary report of 2010 weighted branch-line trials in the tuna joint venture fishery in the South African EEZ
Southern Ocean Hooks-and-Lines Bird-scaring devices, Dyed bait Seabirds The use of both tori-lines and blue-dyed bait (squid and fish) resulted in no interactions with seabirds Southern bluefin tuna None reported Field study in the wild A comparison of two blue-dyed bait types for reducing incidental catch of seabirds in the experimental operations of the Japanese southern bluefin tuna longline
Southern Ocean Hooks-and-Lines Dyed bait Seabirds Decreased bycatch Southern bluefin tuna The CPUE of the target southern bluefin tuna was reduced, except when blue-dyed fish bait was used. Field study in the wild A comparison of two blue-dyed bait types for reducing incidental catch of seabirds in the experimental operations of the Japanese southern bluefin tuna longline
South Pacific Hooks-and-Lines Bird-scaring devices Seabirds Interactions decreased with longer bird lines Southern bluefin tuna None reported Field study in the wild Effective factors of tori-poles in reducing incidental catch of seabirds in the Japanese longline fishery
South Pacific Hooks-and-Lines Bird-scaring devices Seabirds No difference in seabird avoidance between the two types ("WCPFC type and "Light type") of tori-lines Southern bluefin tuna None reported Field study in the wild Seabirds avoidance effect of tori-lines in the Japanese longline fishery: comparison of tori-line streamers
Alaska Trawls Bird-scaring devices Seabirds Warp booms did not reduce bird strikes walleye pollock (Theragra chalcogramma) None Field study in the wild Reducing seabird strikes with trawl cables in the pollock catcher-processor fleet in the eastern Bering Sea
Alaska Trawls Visual deterrents Seabirds Reducing the aerial extent of the third wire reduced strike rates walleye pollock (Theragra chalcogramma) None Field study in the wild Reducing seabird strikes with trawl cables in the pollock catcher-processor fleet in the eastern Bering Sea
Western North Pacific Hooks-and-Lines Bird-scaring devices Seabirds Tori-line light streamer reduced bait-taking behavior and bycatch of seabirds compared to the tori line None reported None reported Field study in the wild Direct comparison of seabird avoidance effect between two types of tori lines in longline fishing experiments
North Pacific Ocean Hooks-and-Lines Bird-scaring devices Seabirds In experiement 1, the mean number of seabirds appearing and the catch per unit effort (for seabirds) was not statistically different between the four tori-lines. In experiment 2, seabird attack rates (Laysan albatross and shearwater) were not statistic None reported Field study in the wild Experimental comparison among four types tori-line designs in the western North Pacific
Eastern Australia Hooks-and-Lines Sub-surface bait setting Seabirds Live bait sank more quickly than dead bait, increasing the exposure of hooks to seabirds but the sink rates of individual live bait species were very variable. With respect to dead bait, those on the 160 g leaded swivel with a distance of 2 m leader len Tuna None reported Field study in the wild Experimental determinations of factors affecting the sink rates of baited hooks to minimize seabird mortality in pelagic longline fisheries
Eastern Australia Hooks-and-Lines Sub-surface bait setting Seabirds Mainlines with a loose configuration reached depth more slowly than tight configurations, allowing more time for seabirds to become incidentally hooked Tuna None reported Field study in the wild Effect of line shooter and mainline tension on the sink rates of pelagic longlines and implications for seabird interactions
South Africa Hooks-and-Lines Sub-surface bait setting Seabirds Catch rates of birds were higher on unweighted compared to weighted branchlines. tuna Catch rates of fish were not significantly different between the two branchline types at night or during the dawn. Field study in the wild Shrink and defend: a comparison of two streamer line designs in the 2009 South Africa tuna fishery
South Africa Hooks-and-Lines Bird-scaring devices Seabirds The mean total attack rate was similar for each design but diving birds attacked further astern in response to both tori line types compared to surface foraging birds. The "hybrid" line did not allow attacks by divers within 50 m but the "light" line al tuna None reported Field study in the wild Shrink and defend: a comparison of two streamer line designs in the 2009 South Africa tuna fishery
Wollongong, Australia Hooks-and-Lines Dyed bait Seabirds Blue-dyed squid bait reduced subsurface interactions with seabirds by 68%. Seabirds struck only 3-8% of surface blue-dyed squid bait compared with 75-98% of non-dyed squid bait. Birds struck 48% of blue-dyed fish bait at the surface during the first tw Tuna None reported Field study in the wild Seabird bycatch mitigation and blue-dyed bait: A spectral and experimental assessment
East Cape, New Zealand Hooks-and-Lines Dyed bait Seabirds Results were inconclusive Bigeye tuna No signficiant effect reported for individual species and when all species were combined the results were inconclusive Field study in the wild Effect of blue dyed bait on incidental seabird mortalities and fish catch rates on a commercial longliner fishing off East Cape, New Zealand
Alaska, Bering Sea Trawls Bird-scaring devices Seabirds Streamers reduced seabird strikes on two cable types walleye pollock (Theragra chalcogramma) none Field study in the wild Reducing seabird strikes with trawl cables in the pollock catcher-processor fleet in the eastern Bering Sea
Southern Brazil Hooks-and-Lines Bird-scaring devices Seabirds Reduced incidental capture of seabirds by 64% Swordfish, blue sharks Increased catch rates of target species (swordfish by 32% and blue sharks by 15.1%) Field study in the wild The effect of light toriline on seabird by-catch and fish catch rates in the pelagic longline fishery off southern Brazil
Norway Hooks-and-Lines Sub-surface bait setting Seabirds Reduced incidental capture of seabirds, mostly fulmars Torsk (Brosme brosme), ling (Molva molva) and haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) Increased target catch rates Field study in the wild Review and evaluation of three mitigation measures-bird-scaring line, underwater setting and line shooter-to reduce seabird bycatch in the north Atlantic longline fishery
Norway Hooks-and-Lines Sub-surface sets (gillnets) Seabirds Reduced incidental capture of seabirds, mostly fulmars Torsk (Brosme brosme), ling (Molva molva) and haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) Increased target catch rates Field study in the wild Review and evaluation of three mitigation measures-bird-scaring line, underwater setting and line shooter-to reduce seabird bycatch in the north Atlantic longline fishery
Norway Hooks-and-Lines Bird-scaring devices Seabirds Reduced incidental capture of seabirds, mostly fulmars Torsk (Brosme brosme), ling (Molva molva) and haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) Increased target catch rates Field study in the wild Review and evaluation of three mitigation measures-bird-scaring line, underwater setting and line shooter-to reduce seabird bycatch in the north Atlantic longline fishery
Hooks-and-Lines Deep sets Seabirds Field study in the wild
Hawaii Hooks-and-Lines Bird curtain Seabirds Resulted in lowest capture rate when used with side-setting Swordfish and tuna Field study in the wild Comparison of three seabird bycatch avoidance methods in Hawaii pelagic longline fisheries
North Pacific Hooks-and-Lines Side sets Seabirds Deterred seabirds from taking bait Swordfish Field study in the wild Preliminary report of side-setting experiments in a large sized longline vessel
Hawaii Hooks-and-Lines Sub-surface sets (gillnets) Seabirds Reduced bycatch Swordfish and tuna Field study in the wild Performance Assessment of Underwater Setting Chutes, Side-Setting, and Blue-Dyed Bait to Minimize Seabird Mortality in Hawaii Pelagic Longline Tuna and Swordfish Fisheries
Hawaii Hooks-and-Lines Sub-surface sets (gillnets) Seabirds Reduced bycatch Tuna Field study in the wild Performance assessment of an underwater chute to mitigate seabird bycatch in the Hawaii pelagic longline tuna fishery
Hawaii Hooks-and-Lines Dyed bait Seabirds Reduced bycatch but least effective of 3 tested techniques Swordfish and tuna Field study in the wild Performance Assessment of Underwater Setting Chutes, Side-Setting, and Blue-Dyed Bait to Minimize Seabird Mortality in Hawaii Pelagic Longline Tuna and Swordfish Fisheries
Norway Hooks-and-Lines Sub-surface sets (gillnets) Seabirds Reduced bycatch Multiple species Increased catch Field study in the wild Reducing seabird bycatch in longline fisheries by means of bird-scaring lines and underwater setting
Hawaii Hooks-and-Lines Side sets Seabirds Reduced bycatch; most promising of 3 tested techniques Swordfish and tuna Field study in the wild Performance Assessment of Underwater Setting Chutes, Side-Setting, and Blue-Dyed Bait to Minimize Seabird Mortality in Hawaii Pelagic Longline Tuna and Swordfish Fisheries
Norway Hooks-and-Lines Bird-scaring devices Seabirds Reduced bycatch Multiple species Increased catch Field study in the wild Reducing seabird bycatch in longline fisheries by means of bird-scaring lines and underwater setting
Washington State Gillnets Acoustic deterrent devices, Visual deterrents Seabirds Variable depending on seabird species Salmon Reduction of target catch was not significant Field study in the wild Novel tools to reduce seabird bycatch in coastal gillnet fisheries
Hawaii Hooks-and-Lines Dyed bait Seabirds Reduced contact with bait Swordfish Field study in the wild Deterring albatrosses from contacting baits during swordfish longline sets
Washington State Gillnets Acoustic deterrent devices, Visual deterrents Seabirds Reduced bycatch but results varied by mesh size Salmon Effect on target catch varied by mesh size Field study in the wild Novel tools to reduce seabird bycatch in coastal gillnet fisheries
Hawaii Hooks-and-Lines Bird-scaring devices Seabirds Reduced contact with bait Swordfish Field study in the wild Deterring albatrosses from contacting baits during swordfish longline sets
Canada Gillnets Metal oxide/barium sulfate nets Small Cetaceans (maximum length < 7.5 meters), Phocoena phocoena (Harbor porpoise), Seabirds Reduced harbor porpoise bycatch Multiple species No difference in catch Field study in the wild Nylon barium sulphate gillnet reduces porpoise and seabird mortality
Hawaii Hooks-and-Lines Sub-surface bait setting Seabirds Reduced contact with bait Swordfish Field study in the wild Deterring albatrosses from contacting baits during swordfish longline sets
Canada Gillnets Metal oxide/barium sulfate nets Seabirds Reduced bycatch Multiple species Did not affect target catch Field study in the wild Nylon barium sulphate gillnet reduces porpoise and seabird mortality
Hawaii Hooks-and-Lines Dyed bait Seabirds Reduced bycatch Swordfish and tuna Did not affect target catch Field study in the wild Hawaii Longline Seabird Mortality Mitigation Project.
South Africa Hooks-and-Lines Sub-surface sets (gillnets) Seabirds Reduced bycatch Patagonian toothfish Field study in the wild Reducing incidental mortality of seabirds with an underwater longline setting funnel
Hawaii Hooks-and-Lines Alternative offal discharge Seabirds Reduced bycatch Swordfish and tuna Field study in the wild Hawaii Longline Seabird Mortality Mitigation Project.
New Zealand Trawls Bird-scaring devices Seabirds Reduced bycatch Swordfish Field study in the wild
Hawaii Hooks-and-Lines Bird-scaring devices Seabirds Reduced bycatch Swordfish and tuna Field study in the wild Hawaii Longline Seabird Mortality Mitigation Project.
Argentina Trawls Bird-scaring devices Seabirds Reduced bycatch Hake Field study in the wild Seabird mortality at trawler warp cables and a proposed mitigation measure: A case study in Golfo San Jorge, Patagonia, Argentina
Hawaii Hooks-and-Lines Night sets Seabirds Reduced bycatch Swordfish and tuna Field study in the wild Hawaii Longline Seabird Mortality Mitigation Project.
New Zealand Hooks-and-Lines Noxious bait Seabirds Reduced interactions Snapper Did not affect target catch Field study in the wild Reducing seabird bycatch in longline fisheries using a natural olfactory deterrent
Hawaii Hooks-and-Lines Night sets Seabirds Reduced bycatch Swordfish Field study in the wild Annual Report on the Hawaii Longline Fishing Experiments to Reduce Sea Turtle Bycatch under ESA Section 10 Permit 1303
Falkan Islands Trawls Bird-scaring devices Seabirds Reduced bycatch Swordfish Field study in the wild Mitigation of seabird mortality on factory trawlers: trials of three devices to reduce warp cable strikes
Washington State Gillnets Seabirds Reduced bycatch Salmon Decreased target catch Field study in the wild Reduction of seabird bycatch in salmon drift gillnet fisheries: 1995 sockeye/pink salmon fishery final report
Hawaii Hooks-and-Lines Side sets Seabirds Resulted in lowest capture rate when used with bird curtain Swordfish and tuna Field study in the wild Comparison of three seabird bycatch avoidance methods in Hawaii pelagic longline fisheries