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SUBJECTS |
NATIONAL PLAN OF ACTION FOR REDUCING INCIDENTAL CATCH
OF SEABIRDS IN LONGLINE FISHERIES
|
Directed Fishery | Species Name | Pelagic or Demersal |
---|---|---|
Greenland halibut | Reinhardtius hippoglossoides | Demersal |
Atlantic cod | Gadus morhua | Demersal |
White hake | Urophycis tenuis | Demersal |
Atlantic halibut | Hippoglossus hippoglossus | Demersal |
Skate | Raja spp. | Demersal |
Yellowfin tuna | Thunnus albacares | Pelagic |
Bigeye tuna | Thunnus obesus | Pelagic |
Bluefin tuna | Thunnus thynnus | Pelagic |
Swordfish | Xiphias gladius | Pelagic |
Porbeagle shark | Lamna nasus | Pelagic |
Demersal longlines are deployed in Canada’s Pacific fisheries waters with most effort directed at Pacific halibut (five to eight million individual hooks set annually), rockfish (at least 500,000 hooks), sablefish or black cod (500,000 hooks) and spiny dogfish. In 1998, there were about 570 vessels licensed to use longline gear off the west coast of British Columbia. The International Pacific Halibut Commission conducts research and stock assessments of halibut. Catch quotas for halibut are set by the IPHC, but DFO is responsible for regulating the fishery, enforcing quotas, logbook entry and bycatch monitoring.
The rockfish fishery occurs year-round, although the highest effort occurs from June to August. There are approximately 160 licensed vessels which average 4,000 sets annually. Onboard observer coverage was almost 20 per cent in 2001 in the commercial fishery.
The sablefish longline fishery occurs year round, with up to 20 vessels participating. In 1998, 12 vessels fished about 629 sets. Longline gear, as well as trap gear, is used to harvest sablefish. Fishing for sablefish occurs along the continental shelf break, with most effort since the early 1990s focused on the shallow seamounts, though this has since been much reduced.
Table 2 shows the species of fish that are targeted by demersal longlining off the Pacific coast of Canada; there are no pelagic longline fisheries in these waters.
Table 2: Directed Longline Fishery Species in Pacific Canada
Directed Fishery | Species Name | Pelagic or Demersal |
---|---|---|
Pacific halibut | Hippglossus stenolepis | Demersal |
Spiny dogfish | Squalus acanthias | Demersal |
Rockfish | Sebastes spp. | Demersal |
Sablefish | Anoplopoma fimbria | Demersal |
Effort with longlines in the Canadian Arctic Ocean is very low compared to other areas. There is a limited inshore Greenland halibut fishery in winter through the land-fast sea ice in Cumberland Sound, but there have been no reports in fishers’ logbooks or any anecdotal evidence of seabirds being captured while the baited lines are sitting out on the ice, prior to being set.
Longline vessels do not currently operate in the offshore Greenland halibut fishery in Baffin Bay, but they have been used in the past and may again be used in the future. There is a low level of effort by longline vessels in the Greenland halibut fishery in the Davis Strait and observer coverage has been limited to one or two trips a year. At-sea observers onboard vessels operating in these fisheries are from companies located in southern Canada and data are included in the analysis for the Canadian Atlantic longline fishery. As such, a separate assessment for the relatively small Arctic fisheries has not been conducted.
The purpose of this section of the NPOA-Seabirds is to identify existing gaps and propose remedial steps that can be implemented to reduce the incidental catch of seabirds in longline fisheries. This includes implementation of an ecosystem approach and the precautionary approach.
To enhance cooperation among government agencies responsible for seabirds and marine fisheries management in Canada, as well as with the longline fishing industry, in order to ensure that efficient, effective and economically viable measures are taken to reduce the incidental mortality of seabirds.
The management of migratory birds is the responsibility of Environment Canada through the Canadian Wildlife Service (CWS), while responsibility for fisheries and oceans management rests with DFO. The successful implementation of programs to reduce bycatch will ultimately rest with the Canadian longline industry. To ensure that Canada is able to address strategic aspects of its NPOA-Seabirds, current cooperative practices and processes will be enhanced.
The National Seabird Bycatch Working Group was first established to oversee the preparation of the 2003 Status Report and Future Directions Towards the Development of a National Plan of Action for the Reduction of Incidental Catch of Seabirds in Domestic and Foreign Longline Fisheries in Canadian Waters. Drawing on staff from DFO and CWS, this group was effective in developing the initial assessment, improving overall coordination efforts of government agencies and industry, and sharing information about the incidental mortality of seabirds. The Working Group has overseen the preparation of the NPOA-Seabirds and will oversee its implementation.
To accomplish this task, the working group will continue to work with industry and non-governmental organizations as appropriate. Given the need to improve data and information sharing regarding seabird bycatch, the National Seabird Bycatch Working Group can facilitate the development of agreements to allow sharing of data among federal agencies, recognizing the potentially sensitive nature of this information to the competitiveness of fishers within the industry.
To incorporate management tools that reflects the modern conservation objectives of DFO, in particular, through the delivery of Fisheries Management Renewal and the adoption of an ecosystem approach and the precautionary approach to the management of Canada’s fisheries.
Over the last several years, DFO has engaged resource users, Aboriginal groups, provinces and territories, and others with an interest in the fisheries resource in extensive policy and program reviews to modernize the way fisheries are managed. The results of these reviews have been consolidated into Fisheries Management Renewal (FMR) – a package of program renewal undertakings that promote predictability, stability and transparency, and a strong and healthy fisheries resource. The FMR’s overarching goal is to develop a new fisheries management governance model that will enable DFO and resource users to meet conservation objectives, and that will enable resource users to respond to the economic forces that affect their industries.
Adopting an ecosystem approach and the precautionary approach to the management of fisheries is fundamental to achieving the conservation objectives envisioned by FMR. Adopting an ecosystem approach to fisheries management involves better understanding and managing the cumulative impacts of fishing. A comprehensive ecosystem-based approach would involve taking account of, among other things:
DFO is developing the necessary building blocks to take an ecosystem approach in fisheries management. The emerging approach includes data collection and ecosystem assessment, setting clear ecosystem and management objectives and the development of decision models. It will be supported by policies on forage species, bycatch, and sensitive benthic areas, emerging fisheries and others and delivered through Integrated Fisheries Management Plans.
Adopting the precautionary approach to fisheries management involves setting biologically-based reference points and establishing pre-agreed risk-based actions to be taken at those reference points well in advance of a fishery in order to avoid the stock being reduced to a state of serious harm. For each stock in question, these systems are established in consultation with stakeholders and other interests.
As an example of the progress being made in applying the precautionary approach to fisheries, reference points have been identified for at least 17 fisheries, and these are used to guide management actions. Reference points are used in the management of Berkeley Sound sockeye salmon on the west coast and Gulf herring and harp seals on the east coast.
IFMPs are the fundamental tool for identifying goals relating to conservation, management, science, as well as resource management protection and conservation measures for a particular fishery. IFMPs will continue to evolve along with Canada’s approach to managing fisheries.
To conduct periodic reviews and assessments of the effectiveness of Canada's observer program with respect to the monitoring of seabird bycatch and, in particular, reviewing and developing means to enhance the accuracy of data collected through existing programs.
Canada's observer program targets a broad variety of bycatch species, including seabirds. Efforts to integrate seabird monitoring more strongly into the observer program will be considered in a manner that is commensurate with level of bycatch and with risk to seabird species. These efforts can be undertaken by the National Seabird Bycatch Working Group.
Other factors to be considered in the review of the observer program are:
Enhanced monitoring of both bycatch and seabird populations where there are conservation concerns will help to inform integrated management and allow for targeted mitigation. For example the spatial and temporal specific analysis of the Pacific longline fisheries data from 2000-2002 identified a high degree of overlap between the licensed rockfish fishery and Black-footed Albatross. The data suggested that mitigation to reduce bycatch and research to quantify the effectiveness of such measures should be focused in specific areas at specific times (i.e., such as along the continental shelf between Cape St. James and Cape Scott (British Columbia) during the summer months from June to August).
To address seabird bycatch through the implementation of mitigating measures where information indicates unacceptable levels of incidental take of seabirds in longline fisheries.
Using the best information available and in a precautionary context, actions will be targeted to mitigate seabird bycatch in all Canadian longline fisheries. Outreach programs will further inform fishers of the issue and some of the simple and cost effective ways that they may voluntarily reduce their impact on seabird populations. Included in this list would be the use of tori lines, and mechanisms to remove bait from the surface more quickly such as using thawed bait and weighted hooks.
In fisheries where significant numbers of birds are affected, DFO and CWS will explore the use of targeted quota systems that may be implemented in order to limit the number of birds taken in any given year by specific fisheries.
Environment Canada has begun the process of developing policy and regulations to manage incidental take of migratory birds under the revised Migratory Birds Convention Act to ensure broad consistency across industries, including the forestry, mining, oil and gas, agricultural and fisheries sectors. For the fishing industry, it is intended that the regulations of the Act would be harmonized wherever possible with the policies and programs of DFO to ensure reduced and sustainable incidental capture. New approaches may include fishery permit conditions that support the conservation of migratory birds.
Where mitigation is deemed necessary and implemented, research and regular assessment will be employed to ensure that the most effective methods are put in use and that they produce desired results.
To increase the data available on the offshore distribution and abundance of marine seabirds in order to identify and minimize the impact of human activities on birds at sea, including the impact of the Canadian longline fishery.
Although there is relatively good information on the seasonal spatial distribution of seabirds along Canada's Pacific coast, abundance data are far more difficult to quantify, and are thus limited. Data on the abundance of marine birds off Canada's coastlines are required in order to accurately assess the impacts of human activities on all seabirds. Many of these species do not breed within Canada, though they are known to be frequent visitors to Canadian waters. For resident species, there is almost a complete absence of colony-specific information on marine areas used during the nesting season, or where the birds disperse during the non-breeding season.
Data on colony-specific at-sea distributions, as well as better knowledge about the abundance of non-breeding visitors, will provide critical information to assist with integrated management of the ocean environment. These will also help to identify areas where birds are at the highest risks from a range of human activities, including longlining.
Improved monitoring will assist in developing a better picture of the extent of occurrence of seabird species known to be at risk either globally or in Canadian waters, and help target mitigation efforts.
Canada will work towards increasing its capacity to conduct at-sea inventories of seabirds. Staff from various government departments and agencies that frequent Canadian marine waters (e.g., Canadian Coast Guard, Department of National Defence), interested fishers, Aboriginal groups and academics might be asked to gather and submit systematically collected observational data on seabirds at sea.
Globally-listed species known to occur (or to have occurred) in Atlantic Canada’s waters include Black-footed Albatross (Phoebastria nigripes), Black-browed Albatross (Thalassarche melanophris), Black-capped Petrel (Pterodroma hasitata), Fea’s Petrel (P. feae), and Sooty Shearwater (Puffinus griseus). The globally-listed species that occur or have occurred off Canada’s Pacific coast are identified in Annex 1 of this document. Once a more complete inventory is in place, and monitoring priorities established, identification sheets can be developed for each coast, and distributed as appropriate (e.g., to fisheries observers, fishing crews, officers and crew of federal ships, and so on).
Additionally, Canada will work to develop (geospatial, seasonal, and temporal) avoidance strategies where appropriate. Canada will also assess the risk and impacts of bycatch and explore the most effective mitigation for species as required. Further, Canada will build on other structures, such as the Pelagic Seabird Monitoring Program, to improve its understanding of the distribution of seabird species in Canadian waters. Opportunistic monitoring will be an important component to the long-term efforts, and Canada will work to develop cooperative relationships wherever possible, to enhance its capacity to collect seabird observational data.
The increased understanding of the spatial/temporal distribution and abundance of seabirds will enhance integrated approaches to the management of fisheries and will aid in the conservation of seabird populations.
To inform Canadians, especially fishers, as to why Canada has developed an NPOA-Seabirds, and to raise awareness of the importance of taking action to reduce seabird bycatch and mortality.
Canada's 2003 assessment and the development of Canada's NPOA-Seabirds, has highlighted the need to increase understanding about how seabird bycatch occurs and the importance of reducing bycatch.
Many individuals continue to believe that the incidental capture of seabirds only occurs when baited hooks are at the surface; however, this is not the case. While most species are limited to grabbing the bait at or as far below the surface as they can reach with their necks (e.g., albatrosses and Northern Fulmars (Fulmarus glacialis)), some species (e.g., Sooty Shearwaters) may dive as deep as 60 meters below the surface to grasp the bait. Although tori lines on their own are effective and important deterrents to seabird bycatch, the use of weighted (rapidly sinking) demersal longlines in concert with the tori lines, is an effective way to reduce or eliminate bycatch.
Given the perception that bycatch in any single fishery is a rare and inconsequential event, it can be extremely difficult to convince fishers that even low levels of incidental capture can have significant, negative impacts on overall populations. An example is the Black-footed Albatross. This species is known for its habit of taking extraordinarily long foraging trips to provide for its single chick (i.e., from its breeding colonies in Hawaii north to the Aleutians or to the west coast of North America). It is also a species that is known for being attracted to fishing vessels. Typical of many seabird species, Black-footed Albatrosses have delayed sexual maturity such that first breeding may be at age eight or later, and they raise only one chick each year. Even when bycatch reducing methods are adopted by fishers in one or more of the species range states, Black-footed Albatrosses through their ocean-basin wanderings, will still find and attempt to scavenge from fishing vessels in other jurisdictions where there may be no mitigation rules or other forms of bycatch.
Canada will work with stakeholders and other interests to design, develop and implement seabird bycatch programs to provide information on Canada's NPOA. Canada will also raise awareness among government staff, fishers, fishing industry associations and other groups about the causes of bycatch, the need to reduce seabird bycatch in longline fisheries, and the importance of using appropriate mitigation measures.
Outreach and education programs may include materials and guidelines that will be disseminated as appropriate through workshops, videos, handbooks, brochures, and posters. Award programs, like Canada’s National Awards for Responsible Fishing and the Roméo Leblanc Medal For Responsible Fishing, may also be used to promote awareness of seabird bycatch in the longline fishery. Potential outcomes of this program could include improved support for the increased monitoring of seabirds, further adoption of mitigation measures where needed and tools to improve the identification of seabirds, especially for priority species.
To conduct a reassessment of the incidental bycatch of seabirds in the Canadian longline fishery based on new data and the implementation of key actions in Canada's NPOA, including specific risk assessments to populations known to be threatened.
Canada plans to complete a reassessment of bycatch in the longline fishery by 2010. The reassessment will be based on data collected from Canada’s fishery observer programs with input from commercial fishers.
To help inform the assessment, Canada will examine the following:
The importance of the longline fishery to Canada ensures that an accurate estimate of the incidental bycatch of seabirds will be undertaken and efforts to improve the current accuracy will be reporte
To report progress on Canada's NPOA-Seabirds as required under the IPOA-Seabirds, and to ensure that the NPOA remains a living document that can be updated as new measures are developed and endorsed.
Under the IPOA-Seabirds, Canada will monitor progress in implementing its NPOA-Seabirds and report to the FAO, every four years, on progress made, lessons learned, and effective strategies implemented. Additionally, Canada will provide updates on the current status of mitigation efforts, new initiatives in research, and any substantial changes to existing management measures and mitigation practices.
Canada will review the NPOA-Seabirds and report on the effectiveness of this plan of action and provide an updated assessment of the incidental catch of seabirds in longline fisheries, as well as any other relevant fisheries, such as the gillnet fishery. Measures for improving the NPOA and current mitigation efforts will also be identified and considered.
To work within regional fisheries management organizations to develop and enhance seabird bycatch policy and programs, as appropriate.
Canada will continue to cooperate on seabird bycatch issues with the International Pacific Halibut Commission. Through IPHC, Canada will share experience to date on the effectiveness of current mitigation measures in the halibut fishery and share best practices with respect to the incidental take of seabirds. In the Atlantic, Canada will work with its NAFO and ICCAT partners to support targeted research programs related to bycatch, to share data as appropriate on bycatch in the Canadian fishery, and to coordinate any outreach or education programs that are needed to assist with the management of seabird bycatch. These programs might include enhanced international cooperation on best practices to avoid the incidental capture of seabirds.
To explore opportunities to share information and expertise as well as provide guidance or technical assistance, where practical, in conducting assessments of the incidental catch of seabirds or developing National Plans of Action for Reducing Incidental Catch of Seabirds in Longline Fisheries.
On a continental level, Environment Canada, including the Canadian Wildlife Service, works with federal agencies in the United States and Mexico through the Trilateral Committee for Wildlife and Ecosystem Conservation and Management to exchange information and develop joint efforts in matters of mutual jurisdiction. CWS will work to foster a harmonized approach to completing and implementing the individual NPOA-Seabirds with trilateral partners where possible.
A broad constituency is involved in bird conservation on a continental level via partnerships of governments and non-governmental organizations through the Trinational Committee of the North American Bird Conservation Initiative. CWS will support efforts to share information and work on a broader seascape level to implement conservation measures for seabirds through this initiative.
On a hemispheric scale, CWS works with a broad spectrum of conservation partners from across the Americas through the Waterbird Conservation Council. As with the Trilateral Committee and the North American Bird Conservation Initiative, CWS will seek opportunities to share information and expertise to promote seabird conservation through this group.
Other international instruments, such as the Agreement for the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels, and the Convention on Migratory Species are involved in efforts to reduce seabird bycatch in fisheries but are currently not relevant in the Canadian context. As a result, Environment Canada has indicated its intention to work with these groups if overlapping objectives are determined but will not become a signatory. For those species that migrate to Europe and Africa, work with the African-Eurasian Waterbird Agreement may become necessary to link Canadian efforts with those across the Atlantic Ocean.
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Gilroy, H.L., T.O. Geernaert, S.M. Kaimmer, G.H. Williams and R.J. Trumble. 2000. A Feasibility Study That Investigates Options for Monitoring Bycatch of the Short-tailed Albatross in the Pacific Halibut Fishery off Alaska. Unpublished Report. National Marine Fisheries Service.
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(Note: All document links were accessed as of February 2007.)
This Annex is based on data presented in an assessment report related to the preparation of Canada’s NPOA-Seabirds entitled Status Report and Future Directions Towards the Development of a National Plan of Action for the Reduction of Incidental Catch of Seabirds in Domestic and Foreign Longline Fisheries in Canadian Waters, 2003. Only the section outlining the assessment of the longline industry is presented in this Annex.
Canada intends to repeat this assessment for its three coasts by 2010, as outlined in the actions section of this NPOA.
For the 976 longline fishery sets observed on Canadian vessels in the Gulf of St. Lawrence in 2001, seabird bycatch consisted of eight kilograms of the unidentified gull and three kilograms of Herring Gull (Larus argentatus), or an estimated 0.0036 to 0.0108 birds per thousand hooks (based on 1000 to 3100 hooks per set). Observed fishing effort of the longline fisheries in this region is approximately five to 10 per cent.
The number of seabirds and the corresponding fishing effort (number of sets) on observed vessels in the Scotian Shelf and Bay of Fundy regions are reported in Table 3. The total number of seabirds caught was not estimated due to the low percentage of observer coverage and sporadic nature of the fishing effort. It should be noted that longline fishing effort varies greatly in terms of season, duration of trip, location, number of sets per trip and the number of hooks per set. Due to a requirement for 100 per cent observer coverage of foreign vessels, it can be estimated that the total number of birds caught for the 5,839 sets that were observed on Japanese vessels in Canadian waters between 1986 and 2001 was 394. Most of these were unidentified birds and all the fishing effort occurred between October and December. Out of 848 sets from Faroese vessels and 15 sets from Greenland big vessels with 100 per cent of observer coverage, no seabirds were caught between 1986 and 2001.
Table 3: Observed Fishing Effort (number of sets) and estimated numbers of seabirds caught in the Scotian Shelf and Bay of Fundy waters during longline trips observed 1986-2001 on Canadian and foreign vessels
Vessels in Canadian waters from: | Canada | Canada | Japan | Japan | Greenland and Faroes | Faroes | Total |
Longline fishery species | Demersal | Pelagic | Demersal | Pelagic | Demersal | Pelagic | |
Observed effort (number of sets) | 15,762 | 1,528 | 1,595 | 4,244 | 11 | 838 | 23,978 |
Bird Species | |||||||
Double-crested Cormorant | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Great black-backed Gull | 6 | 16 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 25 |
Greater Shearwater | 6 | 37 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 43 |
Lesser Black-backed Gull | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Herring Gull | 0 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 |
Northern Fulmar | 53 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 54 |
Northern Gannet | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
Sooty Shearwater | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
Not specified | 5 | 0 | 0 | 382 | 0 | 0 | 387 |
Total | 75 | 70 | 0 | 394 | 0 | 0 | 539 |
* Observer coverage is approximately 100 per cent on foreign vessels and was found to be between five per cent and 53 per cent in the cod/haddock/pollock fishery for Canadian vessels in the Scotia Fundy region
** Number of birds has been calculated using estimated bird weights (kg) from Birds of the World
*** Number of hooks used per longline set can vary greatly from one hook to 1500 per set; number of longline sets released per fishing trip may vary from one to 10.
The number of seabirds caught on observed vessels and the corresponding fishing effort (number of sets) in Newfoundland and Labrador Region are reported in Table 4. As the data suggest, the relationship between fishing effort and the number of birds, is highly variable and difficult to predict.
Between 1989 and 2001, between five and 10 per cent of the Canadian vessels had observers on board; during that period, 120 birds were caught in this region. The majority of birds (115) were caught in the Canadian demersal longline fishery, of which 1,044 sets were observed. Out of 59 sets that constituted this pelagic longline fishery, only five birds were caught between 1989 and 1990 (approximately five to 10 per cent observer coverage on Canadian vessels in Newfoundland waters). With 100 per cent observer coverage of foreign vessels in Canadian waters, the picture is more complete. Of the 313 sets fished (mostly for Greenland halibut) by Norwegian vessels, 146 Northern Fulmars were killed. In contrast, Faroese vessels fished 848 longline sets between 1989 and 1992 and only four gulls were observed caught.
Table 4: Observed Fishing Effort (number of sets) and estimated numbers of seabirds caught in Newfoundland waters during longline trips observed 1989-2001on Canadian and foreign vessels
Vessels from: | Canada | Canada | Faroes & Japan & Norway | Faroes | Greenland | Japan | Norway | Total |
Fishery species | Demersal | Pelagic | Demersal | Pelagic | Demersal | Pelagic | Pelagic | |
Observed effort (number of sets) | 1,044 | 59 | 21 | 4,455 | 67 | 53 | 312 | 6,011 |
Bird Species | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Great black-backed Gull | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
Herring Gull | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
Northern Fulmar | 70 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 146 | 216 |
Sooty Shearwater | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 |
Greater Shearwater | 4 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
Not specified | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 17 |
Total | 115 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 146 | 274 |
*Observer coverage is approximately 100 per cent on foreign vessels and was found to be between five and 10 per cent for Canadian vessels in the Newfoundland region.
**Number of birds has been calculated using estimated bird weights (kg) from Birds of the World.
***Number of hooks released per longline set and number of longline sets per trip can vary greatly.
Despite the effort put into monitoring seabird bycatch, much of the recent data have not been analysed. There is still relatively little known about seasonal variability in the numbers and distribution of seabirds off the Atlantic coast (Brown et al., 1975; Lock et al., 1994; Huettmann and Lock, 1997; Huettmann and Diamond, 2000; 2001). Northern Fulmars, Herring Gulls and Great Black-backed Gulls (Larus marinus), Sooty Shearwaters (Puffinus griseus), Greater Shearwaters (Puffinus gravis) and Northern Gannets (Morrus bassanus) are the species most often caught in longline fisheries. With the exception of Herring Gulls, breeding populations of some of these species in the Canadian Arctic and Europe have expanded and are now stabilizing (Hatch and Nettleship, 1998); within Newfoundland and Labrador, small breeding populations have increased and are probably now stable (Stenhouse and Montevecchi, 1999; CWS unpublished data). Herring Gull populations are declining throughout their Atlantic range, (Chapdelaine and Rail, 1997; Robertson et al., 2001; Boyne and Hudson, 2002) probably due to reductions of food made available through fishing activities and in landfills. Great Black-backed Gull populations have shown a mix of trends, declining in Labrador, stable in Newfoundland, and increasing or stable in parts of the Maritimes (Mawhinney et al., 1999; Boyne and Hudson, 2002; Robertson et al., 2002). Northern gannet populations are increasing at all colonies in North America. There is no information on population trends of shearwaters, though the Small Manx Shearwater (Puffinus puffinus) breeding population in southern Newfoundland is known to have declined (Robertson, 2002).
Demersal longline fisheries in Canadian Atlantic waters had an associated observed bycatch rate of 0.016 birds/1,000 hooks over the 14-year period between 1986 and 1999 (Cooper, et al 2000). For those years, it was estimated that about 500 birds were killed annually by demersal longliners, although the number has varied greatly from year to year depending on fishing effort. For the 27 demersal sets observed with seabird bycatch, on average 1.3 birds were taken on 3,100 hooks per set. A high majority of the sets contained no seabirds. The longline fishery for Greenland halibut, taking place prior to the 1990s in an area along the shelf edge between Canada and Greenland, had been the primary source of mortality of seabirds by demersal longliners in Canadian Atlantic waters. Observers reported mortality of Northern Fulmars and Great Black-backed Gulls at a rate of about 0.02 birds per thousand hooks in the turbot fishery. Observations on bird bycatch have been kept since 1999 but not yet analysed.
The catch rate for pelagic longline fisheries in the Canadian Atlantic between 1986 and 1999 was estimated at 0.032 birds per 1,000 hooks, double that observed for demersal fisheries (Cooper, et al. 2000). Between these years, all of the fishing effort took place along the outer slope of the Scotian shelf and the southwest slope of the Grand Banks. It is estimated that approximately 1,400 birds were killed annually by pelagic longliners. Bird mortality was recorded when fishing was directed at tuna and swordfish but not for the small porbeagle shark fishery. On average, four birds were taken on the 1,700 hooks (per set) from the 55 pelagic sets observed with seabirds between 1986 and 1999. The species recorded were northern gannet, Herring Gull and Great Black-backed Gull. Until the late 1990s, most bird mortalities in this fishery were not classified by the species level but it is assumed that some of the catch may actually have been composed of an unknown number of shearwaters, since Sooty Shearwaters and Greater Shearwaters had been captured in gillnets in the same and adjacent areas. One double-crested cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) was caught in August, 1998 in NAFO Division 5ZM (Georges Bank) during a swordfish (pelagic) longline trip. None of the affected species is considered to be at conservation risk.
Four trips of pelagic longline vessels targeting tuna and swordfish were observed on the Scotian shelf between June and December, 2000 (Smith, 2000). In addition, 12 interviews were held using a questionnaire with longline skippers and crew. Only one bird, a Greater Shearwater, was reported caught. The catch per thousand hooks overall for four trips was 0.03. Typical of most bycatch events, the birds ingested the bait during the setting of the gear. The number of seabirds taken by this fishery appears to be very low, possibly because the gear is most often set and hauled in low light conditions and baits are heavy enough to sink quickly. Results obtained from questionnaires suggested that there is not a substantial seabird bycatch problem in this fishery.
It should be stressed that the observations above are based on relatively low observation rates (three to 10 per cent of the sets observed), and inadequate identification of species in historical data. Although these data indicate low catch rates, better data on catch rates and species identification are required.
The International Pacific Halibut Commission’s standardized stock assessment survey reported one Black-footed Albatross from 80,000 hooks hauled in 1998. No birds were caught when 100,000 hooks were hauled in 1999 and all survey vessels used a seabird deterrent device. A summary of IPHC port interview data indicated that 24 birds were caught in 1998 (out of 4.6 million hooks hauled) and 23 birds were caught in 1999 out of 8.3 million hooks hauled (Gilroy et al., 2000). Albatrosses were the most commonly reported species although not all birds caught were identified.
Table 5: Number of seabirds reported caught in the Pacific region for commercial longline trips observed between 1999 and 2004 on Canadian vessels
Directed Longline Fishery Species | Halibut | Dogfish and Lingcod | Rockfish Nearshore | Rockfish Seamount Charter | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bird Species | Year | ||||
Black-footed Albatross | 1999 | 1 | 0 | 3 | |
2000 | 1 | 0 | 4 | ||
2001 | 2 | 0 | no fishery | ||
2002 | 1 | 9 | no fishery | ||
2003 | 5 | 4 | no fishery | ||
2004 | 1 | 0 | no fishery | ||
Northern Fulmar | 2002 | 1 | 0 | no fishery | |
Herring Gull | 1999 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
2001 | 0 | 0 | no fishery | ||
2002 | 0 | 0 | no fishery | ||
2003 | 4 | 0 | no fishery | ||
2004 | 0 | 0 | no fishery | ||
Glaucous-winged Gull | 2001 | 1 | 0 | no fishery | |
2004 | 4 | 4 | 4 | no fishery | |
Gulls | 2001 | 0 | 1 | no fishery | |
2002 | 1 | 1 | no fishery | ||
2003 | 1 | 1 | no fishery | ||
Pigeon | 2001 | 1 | 0 | no fishery | |
Total | 22 | 6 | 20 | 7 | |
Observer Coverage (% of hooks hauled) | 1999 2000 2001 2002 |
1.6 2.5 9.8 18.6 |
0.2 0.7 1.7 10.6 |
42.3 100 no fishery no fishery |
(Note: for an update of the incidental capture of seabirds in the Canadian Pacific Longline fishery, please see Smith et al., 2005. Based on this report, an average of 7.5 million hooks were hauled in the commercial halibut fishery in Canadian waters from 1999-2002 (range 6.4-8.3 million) in 1999. A total of nine albatrosses were captured. The results of this work have helped to support the adoption of tori lines in this fishery. The IPHC port interviews, 1998-1999, reported 16 albatrosses as bycatch in BC, more than all other IPHC areas combined. The high bycatch rates in BC were partly due to higher interview rates and more accurate reporting results (Gilroy et al., 2000).)
As shown in Table 5, the majority of the seabird species caught in all Pacific longline fisheries between 1999 and 2001 were Black-footed Albatrosses or unidentified albatross species. Observer coverage increased in all fisheries from 1999-2002, with up to 18 per cent coverage in the British Columbia commercial halibut fleet
Uncertainty exists concerning the seasonal variability in the numbers and distribution of seabirds along the Pacific and Atlantic coasts. However, a 20+ year data set of seabird abundance and distribution at-sea within the Pacific Canadian EEZ was used to examine spatio-temporal overlap between the commercial fisheries and the Black-footed Albatrosses (Wiese and Smith, 2003).
The global distribution of the breeding colonies for most of the above species of seabirds is well known (i.e., most field guides accurately present that information). However their at-sea movement is poorly understood because of the prohibitive cost and challenges that monitoring would involve.
All of the species listed above breed outside Canada, and migrate into or through Canadian waters either during their breeding and non-breeding seasons, or both. The constant passage of birds into and out of Canadian waters makes it virtually impossible to come up with a precise estimate of the total or maximum number of birds present. Additionally, because the abundance and distribution of their preferred prey are influenced by a complex interaction of physical, chemical and biological processes, the distribution of seabirds varies to a large degree with prey.
During the summer, many of these species, especially Black-footed Albatross and Short-tailed Albatross, occur not only offshore but on the continental shelf and along the edge of the shelf break. The shelf is roughly the outer boundary of where most rockfish longlining occurs; however, new technology now allows fishing on the deeper, rockier shelf break slope.
In early 2003, a detailed modelling assessment of mortality was conducted to estimate the population effects of Pacific longline fisheries on Black-footed Albatrosses. The results showed that though bycatch of this species in Canadian waters was relatively low, it was still considered significant.
Black-footed Albatrosses are the species most commonly reported caught in the demersal longline fisheries in British Columbia. According to BirdLife International, the Black-footed Albatross population has a projected 20 per cent decline over 60 years (three generations). In the modelling assessment, the total annual mortality of Black-footed Albatross from the demersal halibut and rockfish longline fishery in British Columbia was estimated based on fishing and observer effort (2000-2002),and the occurrence of Black-footed Albatross in waters less than 500 metres deep (1982-2001). To assess population effects, a stochastic, density-independent matrix population projection model was used based on published demographic parameters from three main colonies in the northern Hawaiian Islands. The annual estimate of the incidental capture of Black-footed Albatross off the coast of British Columbia was compared with the estimated mortality from the United States and international demersal and pelagic longline fisheries in the North Pacific.
The combined halibut and rockfish annual fishing effort in British Columbia, between 2000 and 2002, ranged between nine and 11 million hooks. Albatross bycatch rates ranged from 0 to 0.0524 birds per thousand hooks observed. Bycatch was highest in those areas along the shelf break, where albatross were found and during the spring and summer. Based on the most spatially and temporally explicit model possible given the available data, it was estimated conservatively that between 67 and 162 Black-footed Albatrosses were killed yearly in the rockfish and halibut demersal longline fishery off the coast of British Columbia, although mortality could be as low as 22 or as high as 253 (Wiese and Smith, 2003). In a study that spanned four years (1999-2002), but did not adjust for variation in the distribution of observer effort (in space or time), Smith and Morgan (2005) estimated between 20 and 178 Black-footed Albatross mortalities per year. Currently, Black-footed Albatross populations on the Hawaiian Islands appear stable with a stochastic intrinsic growth rate of 1.005 (0.990-1.018). Projecting the estimated bycatch mortality inflicted on these birds in Canadian fisheries waters onto the population had minimal effect on survival rates and potential population growth rates. In comparison, modelling the combined effects of eliminating the bycatch mortality estimates produced for the United States (Alaska and Hawaii), Japan and Chinese Taipei, increased juvenile and adult survival rates by 3.9 per cent of its current rates, and predicted a potential population growth rate of 1.04 (1.03 – 1.06). Eliminating the Canadian bycatch of albatrosses would add another 0.1 per cent to the current survival rates.
Effectively, this means that Black-footed Albatross populations in the northern Hawaiian Islands have the potential to grow up to four per cent per year in the absence of bycatch mortality from longline fisheries in Canada, the United States, Japan and Chinese Taipei, though this calculation does not consider the known, but non-quantified bycatch in international high-seas fisheries as well as in other parts of the Black-footed Albatrosses oceanic range. Mortality estimates and bycatch rates presented for Canada should be considered conservative because of the lack of complete spatial and temporal fishing data, incomplete observer coverage, and limited knowledge of the spatial and temporal abundance of albatross off the coast of British Columbia. Given the current trend in Black-footed Albatross populations, this species should be considered vulnerable to any increases in anthropogenic mortality and stresses the need to reduce bycatch throughout its entire range wherever possible (Wiese and Smith, 2003).
Although fishery effort with longlines in the Canadian part of the Arctic Ocean is very low compared to other areas, there is a limited Greenland halibut fishery; which uses both longlines and gill nets.
Last updated: 2007-03-08 |
Important Notices |