Story: Marine conservation

Dead seabirds

Dead seabirds

These albatrosses were caught on the hooks of longliners – commercial fishing vessels with spools of fishing line stretching for kilometres. Attracted to fishing vessels because they are a source of food, the birds had dived under the water and become caught up on the baited hooks of longliners. By-catch, the term for species killed accidentally, is one of the most serious issues facing the fishing industry. Attempts are being made to develop devices that scare away seabirds or reduce their chances of being caught.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library, Dominion Post Collection (PAColl-7327)
Reference: EP/1993/2638/23

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

Gerard Hutching and Carl Walrond, 'Marine conservation - Seabirds and shorebirds', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/5812/dead-seabirds (accessed 29 March 2024)

Story by Gerard Hutching and Carl Walrond, published 12 Jun 2006, updated 1 Sep 2015