TL: BYCATCH OF FISHERIES [Birds in Scandinavian Nets] SO: Bjorn Frantzen and Vidar Bakken, Greenpeace (GP) DT: not dated Keywords: greenpeace reports oceans fisheries fish birds deaths scandinavia norway europe gp species / In normal fisheries there are also other species caught in the fishing gear apart from those targetted, and this bycatch often exists in the form of birds and mammals. This is a problem wherever in the world fisheries are in existence, and the conflict is not a new one. It is however, the modern industrial fishery that has created a situation which for some species of sea birds could end in extinction. In this article we will briefly consider the extent of the problem of bycatch of birds. In the Norwegian ocean and coastal fisheries there is very little information available about this type of bycatch. Nonetheless, it is obvious from what there is that the problem is extensive, and we know which species are most in danger and which fisheries have the highest bycatch. In this presentation the emphasis has been placed on the problem of sea birds as bycatch. DIFFERENT TYPES OF BYCATCH. The conflict between birds/mammals and fisheries can roughly be divided into three main groups: - fishing in the open ocean and along the coast - fishfarming - fishing in lakes There follows a briefing on the extent of bycatch that is known for each group. Fishing In the Open Ocean and Along the Coast. Problems with bycatch are particularly well known from two different fisheries, that is line and net fishing. i) Line Fishing There has always been a problem with the birds trying to eat the bait from the line. The problem occurs because the line lies on the surface of the water before it sinks to the bottom. The bait therefore is easily accessible to the sea birds which risk being caught by the hook. Extensive line fishing in the South Pacific Ocean is today a direct threat to the stocks of wandering albatross. In Norwegian waters, the problem has been increasing for the past 20 years, and is thought to particularly affect fulmars. Despite a high mortality from the line fisheries, the total population of fulmars in the North Atlanitc seems to be increasing. It is believed that they get a large percentage of food in the form of fish waste from the large industrial fishing boats, and overall this fishery has had a positive effect on the fulmar's stock development. Line fishing for salmon is now forbidden, but was probably a fishery which had a high bycatch. Amongst a few other fisheries, this type of line fishery was called 'Bluebacklina' because young animals such as hooded seals and harp seals were taken as bycatch. Auks have also been caught on these lines. In the Pacific Ocean they have tried to hang 'streamers' behind the boats and with good effect. Streamers are long strips of plastic and small balloons which lie parallel to the line on the surface before they sink. Something similar has also been tried in our waters, but as yet remain largely undeveloped. On Sunnmore, streamers have been renamed 'tjalkeskraeme'. ii) Net Fishing. Drowned sea birds can be found in nets right down to 200 meters in depth, but the nets set in shallow water catch more birds of a greater number of species. Nets set deeper than 30 meters catch mostly auks, while nets set in shallow water can also catch ducks, cormorants and divers. There are three fisheries in particular which have caught many birds: the driftnet fishery for salmon (now forbidden), the cod fishery and the fishery for lumpsuckers. Also fyke net fishing for salmon should be mentioned. Driftnet Fishing. Driftnet fishing for salmon has occurred to a greater or lesser extent for hundreds of years along the entire coast. The net is set as a driftnet and goes to a depth of up to 6 meters. They are set together in long links which can be several kilometers long. These fisheries can have very high bycatches in coastal areas. For example, off Newfoundland it has been calculated that 2% of a population of 800 000 birds were taken yearly in driftnets in the years 1981-84. In our waters there is a long history of auks being caught in nets (driftnets and cod nets) has resulted in declines in the stock size. This has also been the case for guillemots. Driftnets have probably also to a limited extent caught harbour popoises. Nets for Cod. At times this fishery has probably also caught many auks. This occurs when the cod and sea birds feed on krill and other small crustaceans, and the fishery occurs in the same area. This happens in connection with the migration of the capelin into the coast, and the result is often that large quantities of sea birds are taken as bycatch. Extremely high bycatches have been recorded in this fishery. According to information received by the Stavanger Museum, from 8000-10000 auks were caught in nets in West-Finnmark in the course of a few days in 1958. More recently, in 1985 it has been calculated that approximately 200 000 guillemots were caught in nets just off Troms, and in the same year there may have been a similar event in Varanger Fjord. These examples show clearly that bycatch has been a serious threat to auks, and especially the guillemot stocks, and is probably one of the main causes for the considerable decline that has been registered in the northern Norwegian colonies. The various cormorant species are also exposed to capture in these nets. Stavanger Museum suggest that 80-90% of all cormorants found are reported to have drowned in fishing nets. A smaller number of shags are also registered. Very little of the available information of bycatch of sea birds has come directly from the fishermen. This is probably due to the fact that birds killed by nets aren't used and therefore aren't landed, and that many fisheries don't wish for the bycatch of sea birds to be known. Lumpsucker Fishing. This fishery takes place mostly in Finnmark and occurs in late spring. The net is set shallow, very close to land, and catches many birds in the first period where there is still dark nights. From East-Finnmark there are reports that eider's, steller's eiders, king eider's, shags and white-billed divers are caught. In particular localities such large quantities of birds have been taken in nets, that it has prompted attention from the administration. The State Representative (Fylkesmannen) in Finnmark has therefore taken the initiative above the Directorate for environmental management so that management of the fisheries gives more consideration for the birds. Fyke Net Fishing. Fishing for salmon in earlier times caught many sea birds on salmon fishing grounds which lay near colonies. In past years these salmon fishing grounds have been changed, and it has been accepted that relatively few birds drown now in these nets. There are meanwhile still salmon fishing grounds near bird colonies, and from as recently as the summer of 1990 there are records of drowned birds in landed nets. Responses to a questionnaire sent to salmon fishermen in 1981 suggested that that around 5 000 sea birds were taken in nets that year. Fishfarming. Throughout the eighties, fishfarming along a large part of the Norwegian coast grew into quite an important business. The industry has grown without enough consideration being paid to possible consequences. It is known that fishfarming has had big problems with the entanglement of both sea birds and marine mammals in the nets. From a study in Finnmark, it was found that shags constitute a considerable number of those injured. Some fishfarmers also shoot injured animals without obtaining a license to kill them. Since so little is done in many areas to prevent entanglement and injuries, there is concern that a considerable number of sea birds are killed every year in the the large fishfarming industry. Fishing in Large Shallow Lakes In Myvatn on Iceland and in Lake Ijssemeere (Holland) there are reports of extensive bycatch of ducks, grebes and cormorants. These are large, shallow lakes where extensive fishing takes place. While these types of lakes do not exist in Norway, we wish to mention the problem as it shows that the conflict between sea birds and fisheries isn't isolated to salt water. Many water birds have their gathering places in both salt water and fresh water. It can also be mentioned that in Holland for example, there have been conflicts between birds and fishfarming in fresh water along the same lines as those discussed on the coast of Norway. THE PROBLEM IS NOT NEW FOR NORWEGIAN AUTHORITIES. Both the Department of the Environment and the Department of Fisheries, as well as underlying institutions, know that there is a problem to be found with sea birds and marine mammals being taken as bycatch. The problem with bycatch was discussed by the Director for Wildlife and Fresh Water Fish in the 1970's. Tromso Museum underlined the need to research the problem as long ago as 1981. No-one knows how many birds are taken as bycatch, but the Sea Bird Projects' final report showed that it involves several tens of thousands yearly. It is now high time to take the problem of bycatch seriously. If we don't we run the risk that several species along the coast could be threatened. The situation is not improving, for several of these species are threatened by other factors such as food depletion and oil spills. The crash of the capelin fishery in the Barents Sea in 1986 was catastrophic for several species. In Norwegian waters there is reason to believe that the guillemot is the sea bird species that has been hardest hit by bycatch. This bycatch is known to be one of the main reasons for the decline in stock numbers which has happened to this species. WHAT CAN WE DO TO REDUCE BYCATCH? Fishermen report only a small portion of the total bycatch of sea birds, and many don't hand in the band when marked birds are caught. With incomplete information about the numbers and locations of birds caught, it is difficult to fully understand the nature of the problem. In the meantime, bycatch is also a problem for fishermen, for it requires time and effort to repair the gear after sea birds or marine mammals have been entangled. Clearly, it would be to everyone's advantage if the extent of bycatch could be reduced. This requires, to begin with, much more open discussion about the problem by both the fisheries industry and management. The placing of observers on boats is one way to collect data for some fisheries using large boats. Ultimately, the solution is to fish in ways which does not involve the capture of non-target species. In some cases this may require closed seasons or closed areas at times and places with large concentrations of sea birds. It is also necessary to develop and deploy fishing gear and methods which reduce bycatch of not just birds, but other species as well.