The problem of incidental seabird mortality in fisheries is a global concern. The interaction is exacerbated as the areas of high productivity targeted by marine fisheries are also the key foraging grounds for many seabirds, creating a strong overlap between humans and these vulnerable marine vertebrates.
Within this scenario Chile represents an important example in South America, with ca. 4.000 km of coast line, throughout which there is a large fishing effort by artisanal (small-scale) and industrial fleets.
This is especially true if we consider the presence of seabirds throughout the year, with important species breeding in Chilean Patagonia, such as the Black-browed albatross Thalassarche melanophrys and Grey-headed T. chrysostoma. Chilean waters also host large abundances of foraging species such as Salvin's albatross T. salvini that migrate to the Humboldt current from their Pacific island breeding colonies.
In 2007 Chile implemented their National Plan of Action to reduce bird mortality in longline fisheries (NPOA-Seabirds). This initiative was a first step towards reducing negative interactions between seabirds and fisheries. In December 2011 the Fisheries Undersecretary set up a scientific committee to provide scientific advice on seabird biodiversity issues.
This committee comprises representatives of government offices, universities and institutes and includes the active participation of members of the Albatross Task Force.
ATF-Chile has thus been able to share their experiences in different fisheries, and present research related to seabird interactions. Along with studies from other members of the seabird committee, this has helped position seabird bycatch high on the agenda. One of the priorities highlighted in the meetings has been the renovation of the NPOA-S to include trawl and gillnet fisheries in line with the FAO Best Practice Technical Guidelines for the NPOA-S.
In December 2012 the third meeting of the committee will be held at which the ATF will have an important role in providing new interaction data on bycatch levels and existing mitigation measures in trawl fisheries. How to develop a programme to identify and eventually tackle gillnet bycatch will form a challenging but crucial item on the agenda.
Below: Seabird bycatch in artisanal gillnet fisheries will be an important issue to identify in Chile.