Natural History Wanderings

Birdlife International reported on new actions that may greatly reduce  accidental deaths of albatrosses from commercial fishing:

the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) have agreed to measures that could result in significant reductions in the deaths of albatrosses, which accidentally get snagged on long line fishing hooks and then drown.

….. all longline vessels in the South Pacific will now be required to use two seabird bycatch mitigation measures in areas overlapping with albatrosses. Vessels must choose from a choice of either bird streamers, also known as tori lines, which scare birds away from the hooks; adding weights to hooks to make them sink more quickly; or setting hooks at night when most birds are less active.

Read more at:  Landmark move to protect albatrosses in the Western and Central Pacific just announced | BirdLife Community.