The objective is to apply effective and adaptable mitigation methods to the longline fleet of the Spanish Levante, which reduce the bycatch of seabirds to a sustainable level.

The objective is to apply effective and adaptable mitigation methods to the longline fleet of the Spanish Levante, which reduce the bycatch of seabirds to a sustainable level.

This project represents a first phase to determine the degree of interaction between birds and longlines, the factors that have the greatest influence on this interaction, and to start with an awareness campaign among fishermen about the problem of seabird bycatch.

The specific goals that are expected to be achieved are:

• Determine the areas and periods where longline-bird interaction is most likely and intense.
• To obtain reliable estimates of the bycatch of birds in longliners operating in the Spanish Levante over the course of a year.
• To determine the environmental factors and longline characteristics that have the greatest influence on bird attraction and bycatch.
• To know the origin of accidentally captured Cory’s shearwaters, through isotopic analysis and trace elements of their feathers.
• Raise awareness among the fishing community of the problem of seabird bycatch and inform how to implement mitigation measures.

Among other activities, the embarkation of observers in Catalonia and the Valencian Community will be organized in a minimum of five departures per month, throughout the year of the duration of the initiative. The departures will be distributed through different ports and longlines in the study area. In addition, longline fishermen will be surveyed on the accidental catches of seabirds and talks will be held in all ports with operational longlines, among other actions.