Seabird mortality associated with Patagonian toothfish longliners in Falkland Island waters during 2002/03 and 2003/04

The Patagonian toothfish longline fishery set approximately 7.5 million hooks and 9.6 million hooks in 2002/03 and 2003/04, respectively. Observers were present during the setting of 59% of all lines set during 2002 – 2004 to record adherence to the above provisions and record seabird mortality. Only Black-browed albatross (Thalassarche melanophris) mortalities were recorded. Estimated total mortality for 2002/03 was 80 Black-browed albatross and for 2003/04, 45 Black-browed albatross. The rates for 2002/03 & 2003/04 were 0.011 and 0.005 birds/1, 000 hooks, respectively, indicating that the toothfish longline vessels are meeting the requirements of the relevant National Plan of Action.