Seabirds are unintentionally caught in commercial fisheries off Alaska; this unintentional catch is referred to as bycatch. Federal law requires bycatch be minimized to the extent practicable, and specific modifications to fishing gear and practices are required by Federal regulation to reduce seabird bycatch. Historically, most seabird bycatch off Alaska occurred in fisheries using demersal longline (i.e., hook-and-line) gear. Compliance with seabird avoidance regulations has decreased seabird bycatch by thousands of birds in fisheries using demersal longline gear off Alaska; however, bycatch of seabirds remains high in the commercial fisheries off Alaska each year.

https://doi.org/10.25923/vb9g-s503

Public Domain