Seabird Bycatch Reduction Program - Action Plans
National Initiatives
- Final U.S. National Plan of Action for the Reduction of Incidental Catch of Seabirds in Longline Fisheries, 2001
- Implementation of the US National Plan of Action on Seabirds: US report for FAO Committee on Fisheries Meeting, 2003
- Interagency Seabird Working Group members
Local Action
NOAA Fisheries and Council Regional Seabird Efforts
- Alaska Regional Office
- Proposed Seabird Avoidance Regulations
- Draft for Public Review Environmental Assessment/Regulatory Impact Review/Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis for a Regulatory Amendment to Revise Regulations for Seabird Avoidance Measures in the Hook-and-line Fisheries off Alaska To Reduce the Incidental Take of the Short-tailed Albatross And Other Seabird Species, April 2008
- Revised Seabird Bycatch Regulations, January 2008
- 72 FR 71601, December 18, 2007. Final rule to revise the seabird avoidance measures. Effective January 17, 2008.
- Final Seabird EA/RIR/IRFA Analysis for a Regulatory Amendment, 2007
- Proposed Seabird Avoidance Regulations
- Alaska Fisheries Science Center
- Pacific Island Regional Office
- Southwest Regional Office
- South Atlantic Fishery Management Council
- Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS)
Endangered Species Act Biological Opinions on Short-tailed Albatross
Presentations
- Longline Workshop, 2007
- Pacific Seabird Group Poster, 2008
International Initiatives
- Report of the Expert Consultation on Best Practice Technical Guidelines for IPOA/NPOA-Seabirds, September 2008 (external link)
- Review and Assessment of Mitigation Measures to Reduce Incidental Catch of Seabirds in Longline, Trawl and Gillnet Fisheries, 2008 (external link)
- International Plan of Action for Reducing Incidental Catch of Seabirds in Longline Fisheries, 1999 (external link)
- FAO's Fisheries Circular No. 937- The Incidental Catch of Seabirds by Longline Fisheries: Worldwide Review and Technical Guidelines for Mitigation (external link)
- United States' Implementation of the IPOA-Seabirds: Information prepared for the 2005 FAO Committee on Fisheries Meeting
- NOAA Fisheries International Seabird Bycatch Reduction Activities, February 2007
- Seabird Resolutions at the Regional Fishery Management Organizations (RFMO)
- Summary of Seabird Information from the March 2005 COFI and RFB Meetings
- Seabird Side Session at 4th Meeting of Regional Fishery Bodies - 2005
- IPOA-Seabirds: Implementation by RFMOs (NOAA Fisheries presentation)
- RFMOs: Their Role & Performance in Reducing Seabird Bycatch (BirdLife International presentation)
International Action
- Review of Measures Taken by Intergovernmental Organizations to Address Sea Turtle and Seabird Interactions in Marine Capture Fisheries - FAO Fisheries Circular No. 1025
- CCAMLR Resolution 22/XXV: International Actions to Reduce the Incidental Mortality of Seabirds Arising from Fishing
- WCPFC Seabird Conservation Measure, 2006
Seabird Bycatch
Seabirds (mostly northern fulmars) congregating around the F/V Judi B, a commercial longline vessel. Photo: Kim Dietrich, Washington Sea Grant
Increased concerns have arisen about the incidental capture of non-target species in various fisheries throughout the world. Incidental capture can be economically wasteful, it impacts living marine resources, and the accidental killing of non-harvested animals may be aesthetically aversive. Incidental catch of non-target marine species such as marine mammals, sea turtles, and seabirds has generated growing concern over the long-term ecological effects of such bycatch in longline and other fisheries conducted in many areas of the world's oceans.
In response to these concerns, the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) called for an expert consultation on the issue of global seabird bycatch in longline fisheries. As a result of the consultation, the FAO adopted an International Plan of Action for Reducing the Incidental Catch of Seabirds in Longline Fisheries (IPOA-S) in 1999. The IPOA-S applies to "States" (hereafter Countries) in whose waters longline fishing is being conducted by their own or foreign vessels, and to Countries that conduct longline fishing on the high seas and in the exclusive economic zones (EEZs) of other Countries. The IPOA-S is a voluntary measure that calls on Countries to: (1) assess the degree of seabird bycatch in their longline fisheries; (2)develop individual national plans of action to reduce seabird bycatch in longline fisheries that have a seabird bycatch problem; and (3) develop a course of future research and action to reduce seabird bycatch. The NPOA-S is to be implemented consistent with the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries and all applicable rules of international law, and in conjunction with relevant international organizations.
The United States developed its National Plan of Action for Reducing the Incidental Catch of Seabirds in Longline Fisheries (NPOA-S) in 2001. Development of the NPOA-S was a collaborative effort between the NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and the Department of State (DOS), carried out in large part by the Interagency Seabird Working Group (ISWG) consisting of representatives from those three agencies. This partnership approach recognizes the individual agency management authorities covering seabird interactions with longline fisheries. Also in 2001, NOAA Fisheries appointed its National Seabird Coordinator to head up its NPOA implementation initiatives. This work requires maintenance of a national perspective through coordinated regional activities.
NOAA Fisheries manages U.S. fisheries under the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act and the High Seas Fishing Compliance Act. FWS manages birds predominately under the authority of the Endangered Species Act and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. In addition, DOS has the lead role in international negotiations on fisheries conservation and management issues that should help promote IPOA implementation by encouraging other nations to develop NPOAs. Given each agency's responsibilities, the NPOA-S was developed collaboratively by NOAA Fisheries and FWS. This collaborative effort has increased communication between seabird specialists and fishery managers in FWS and NOAA Fisheries. Maintaining this cooperation is a high priority for both agencies.
Contact Information
Kim RiveraNational Seabird Coordinator
NOAA Fisheries Alaska Region
Protected Resources Division
P.O. Box 21668
709 West 9th St. (Fed Ex. only)
Juneau, AK 99802
PH: (907) 586-7424
FX: (907) 586-7012