Conservationists are calling for an immediate investigation of fishery practices after revelations that thousands of endangered seabirds are killed by trawlers each year. Observers from the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, who were placed aboard a fleet of trawlers, recorded more than 1,500 deaths of seabirds, predominantly endangered black-browed albatrosses, in 157 days at sea. The vessels were trawling waters off the Falkland Islands which support three major fisheries but are dominated by British and Spanish fleets. The sharp rise in high-yield fishery techniques has long alarmed conservationists as birds are regularly caught and drowned when they feed on baited hooks paid out behind the vessels.

The study, to be published in Biological Conservation, reveals conventional trawler fishing is also causing damage to endangered bird populations. Ben Sullivan, of the RSPB, said: "This is driving a significant decline in albatross species." RSPB observers found that discharges from trawlers attracted vast numbers of seabirds to the stern of vessels, putting them in danger of being struck by the long steel cables that drag the nets. The research has triggered a pilot study in the Falklands to test cheap strategies for saving more birds. Fitting bright plastic streamers to trawler cables reduced bird deaths by 93% in one year.
(The Guardian, 29/06/2006)
http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/story/0,,1808242,00.html