OVERVIEW OF SEABIRD BYCATCH BY BRAZILIAN FISHERIES IN THE SOUTH (original) (raw)

The impact of fisheries bycatch on seabirds around the world is currently the focus of considerable international concern. In Brazilian waters there are eight fisheries that affect seabirds, according to the National Plan of Action for the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels (NPOA-Seabirds Brazil). Capture rates obtained by observers during 40 cruises (473 sets and 499,978 hooks) in the pelagic longline fisheries in south and southeastern areas, between November 2000 and December 2005 were 0.102 birds/1000 hooks. The leased fleet (based in northern and northeast ports) that fished along most of the Brazilian coast and in adjacent international waters was sampled by ProBordo observers (Brazilian National Observer Program). Seabird capture in this fishery during 2005 was 68 specimens. The most commonly captured species in both the leased and domestic fleets were the black-browed (Thalassarche melanophris) and Atlantic yellow-nosed (T. chlororhynchos) albatrosses, whitechinned (Procellaria aequinoctialis), spectacled (P. conspicillata) petrels and the great shearwater (Puffinus gravis). Other fisheries have demonstrated that fishing is an important mortality factor for seabirds and incidental capture rates must be evaluated. The assessment of seabird by-catch by fleets based in Brazilian ports must continue in order to support the implementation of mitigation measures.