About

Objectives

The objective of the IPOA-SEABIRDS is to reduce the incidental catch of seabirds in longline fisheries where this occurs. The IPOA-SEABIRDS applies to States in the waters of which longline fisheries are being conducted by their own or foreign vessels and to States that conduct longline fisheries on the high seas and in the exclusive economic zones (EEZ) of other States. The supplementary FAO Best practices to reduce incidental catch of seabirds in capture fisheries (BPTG-Seabirds), seeks to extend the IPOA–Seabirds to other relevant fishing gears including trawls and gillnets.

Implementation

States should adopt a National Plan of Action, (NPOA-Seabirds), and strive to cooperate through regional and subregional fisheries organizations or arrangements, and other forms of cooperation, to reduce the incidental catch of seabirds. Many States have not limited their NPOA-Seabirds to longline fisheries, but apply it for any interaction and incidental capture of seabirds, in any gear type, by their own and foreign vessels, in their own exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and on the high seas.

Other relevant international guidelines

Best practice guidelines for seabird bycatch mitigation support the development of RFMO conservation measures. A notable development in this respect was the entry into force of the Agreement on the Conservation of Albatross and Petrels (ACAP) in 2004. ACAP is an international treaty and a child within the family of Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) agreements. Parties to ACAP work to conserve the highly migratory seabirds (albatrosses and petrels) listed under the Agreement, which are particularly vulnerable to incidental bycatch in fishing operations. Bycatch mitigation was a driver for the establishment of ACAP, which inter alia evaluates incidental catch of seabirds mitigation solutions and develops advice. For ACAP best practice advice for reducing the impact of fishing on seabirds, mitigation fact sheets and seabird identification guides, see ACAP.

Related links