Summary of incidental mortality associated with fishing activities during the 2022 season, and review of incidental mortality data and warp strike data since 2012

This paper summarises data collected by Scheme of International Scientific Observation observers and vessels reporting incidental interactions between fishing vessels, seabirds and marine mammals during fishing activities undertaken during the 2022 season. The extrapolated total of 15 seabirds caught as of 12 September 2022 is the lowest on record. One humpback whale was recorded as incidental mortality in krill fisheries in 2022. The number of seabirds caught in longline fisheries shows a declining trend since 2012, whilst extrapolated warp strike numbers fluctuate between seasons, potentially reflecting a low observation effort and potential data quality issues.