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New Global Birdfair Conservation Project Announced!

Global Birdfair in 2025 will be supporting BirdLife’s conservation work to safeguard the Antipodean Albatross and other endangered seabirds from the threat of bycatch in longline fisheries in the Pacific.


The Global Birdfair 2025 Conservation Project, Safeguarding Ocean Species, will focus on tackling threats facing our magnificent seabirds in the southern Pacific by increasing the use of bycatch mitigation measures on longline fishing vessels. The project will reduce accidental killing of species such as the Antipodean Albatross and create greater awareness of this problem on a global scale.   

The bait and dead fish surrounding fishing vessels represent a rich feeding ground, often attracting hundreds of seabirds. Sadly, for many seabirds, including albatross, this meal is often their last. Incidental capture (also known as bycatch) in fishing gear is the most pervasive threat to these birds. 

Longline fisheries are particularly deadly. Fishing vessels that use this technique set out a main line that can extend up to 100km into the ocean, each containing thousands of hooks. The bait on these hooks  appears to represent an easy meal for albatross, mimicking fish swimming close to the water’s surface. However, when the birds snatch onto what seems like unassuming prey, they often get snagged and dragged underwater as the hooks sink. 

These seabirds do not need to die. Solutions such as bird scaring lines (otherwise known as Tori lines) use colourful streamers to scare away seabirds. Through the work of the Albatross Task Force in South Africa, bycatch mitigation methods have been used to great affect in reducing the mortality of albatrosses by an astonishing 99%.

Bird-scaring lines in action in a Namibian longline fishery © John Paterson
Bird-scaring lines in action in a Namibian longline fishery © John Paterson

The project supported by Global Birdfair will strengthen livelihoods, champion best practices and contribute to more resilient, healthy ocean ecosystems to ensure that our seabirds can soar free.

Our heartfelt thanks to the whole Global Birdfair team for dedicating their support towards this important project. Our seas are in a critical state, but with resources for conservation, we can make a genuine difference to the lives of the wildlife and people that depend on them.

Header Image: ©Shutterstock/Imogen Warren

Antipodean albatross curious to look at the camera, Pacific Ocean, North Island, New Zealand. ©Shutterstock/ wildestanimal