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title: "More commentary on improvements to seabird observer schemes on pelagic longliners"
---

# More commentary on improvements to seabird observer schemes on pelagic longliners

A paper published in the journal [A*nimal Conservation*](http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1111/(ISSN)1469-1795) on the incidental catch of seabirds by Taiwanese longliners estimated that “the total seabird incidental mortality from pelagic longline fishing in the southern Atlantic Ocean to be between 3446 and 6083 birds per year from 2004 to 2008” ([click here](https://www.acap.aq/index.php/en/news/news-archive/57-2012-news-archive/1234-seabird-bycatch-by-pelagic-longline-fisheries-in-the-south-atlantic-ocean-estimated-at-between-3446-and-6083-birds-a-year-over-2004-to-2008)).

 Three commentaries by different authors in the same journal ([click here](https://www.acap.aq/index.php/en/news/latest-news/1345-improvements-to-on-board-observer-schemes-for-pelagic-longliners-that-record-seabird-mortality-are-required)) and the response by the authors (see references below) continue the discussion on improving on-board observer schemes.

 ![Fact Sheet 00 Fig1](https://www.acap.aq/images/stories/acap/Mitigation/Fact_Sheet_00_Fig1.jpg)

 **Selected References:**

 Huang, H.-W. & Y.-M. Yeh, Y.-M. 2013.  Incidental catch of seabirds: strengthening observer programs and increasing cooperation.  [*Animal Conservation* 16: 159-160](http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/acv.12044/pdf).

 Lewison, R.L. 2013.  Finding the missing pieces: working to solve the fisheries bycatch puzzle.  [*A*](http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/acv.12040/full)[*nimal Conservation* 16: 153-154.](http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/acv.12042/full)

 Phillips, R.A. 2013.  Requisite improvements to the estimation of seabird by-catch in pelagic longline fisheries.  [*Animal Conservation*](http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/acv.12041/pdf)[16: 157-158](http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1469-1795.2012.00588.x/abstract).

 Sha, J. 2013.  Next step for reducing seabird bycatch.  [*Animal Conservation*](#)[16: 155-156](#).

 Yeh, Y.-M., Huang, H.-W., Dietrich, K.S. & Melvin, E. 2013.  Estimates of seabird incidental catch by pelagic longline fisheries in the South Atlantic Ocean.  [*Animal Conservation*](#)[16: 141-152](#).

 With thanks to Barry Baker for information.

 *John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 8 May 2013*