Incidental catch of seabirds during longline fishing operations - rejection of key threatening process listing
The Scientific Committee, established by the Threatened Species Conservation Act, has made a Final Determination to reject a proposal for the listing of the incidental catch (or bycatch) of seabirds during longline fishing operations as a KEY THREATENING PROCESS in Schedule 3 of the Act. Listing of Key Threatening Processes is provided for by Section 15 of the Act. Any submissions received following advertisement of the Preliminary Determination have been considered by the Scientific Committee.
NSW Scientific Committee - final determination
The Scientific Committee has found that:
1. The incidental catch (or bycatch) of seabirds during oceanic longline fishing operations has been declared a Key Threatening Process under the Commonwealth Endangered Species Protection Act 1992. The following species were identified as being affected by this Process:
- Wandering Albatross (all subspecies) Diomedea exulans
- Royal Albatross Diomedea epomophora
- Black-browed Albatross Diomedea melanophris
- Buller's Albatross Diomedea bulleri
- Shy Albatross Diomedea cauta
- Yellow-nosed Albatross Diomedea chlororynchus
- Grey-headed Albatross Diomedea chrysostoma
- Sooty Albatross Phoebetria fusca
- Light-mantled Sooty Albatross Phoebetria palpebrata
- Northern Giant Petrel, Macronectes halli
- Southern Giant Petrel Macronectes giganteus
- White-chinned Petrel Procellaria aequinoctialis
- Flesh-footed ShearwaterPuffinus carneipes
- Sooty ShearwaterPuffinus griseus
2. There is considerable evidence for the decline of albatross populations in the Southern Ocean and that longline fishing is a significant cause of mortality to several albatross species.
3. The Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 applies to the coastal waters of the New South Wales.
4. There is evidence that a number of species of seabird, including the Wandering Albatross and the Flesh-footed Shearwater occur in New South Wales waters.
5. The Committee noted that there are restrictions on the types of fishing methods that can be used in New South Wales waters, and that while some types of longline fishing are permitted, the Committee has been unable to obtain any conclusive evidence that the bycatch of seabirds from longline fishing operations occurs in New South Wales waters.
6. In the light of 3 and 5 above the Committee has rejected the proposal to list the incidental catch (or bycatch) of seabirds during longline fishing operations as a Key Threatening Process.
The Committee strongly supports the approach of the Commonwealth to require the modification of fishing methods in Commonwealth Waters so as to reduce seabird bycatch.
Dr Chris Dickman
Chairperson
Scientific Committee
Gazetted: 13/6/1997