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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 109(4)

Interactions of long-line fishing with seabirds in the south-western Atlantic Ocean, with a focus on White-capped Albatrosses (Thalassarche steadi)

Sebastián Jiménez A B C , Andrés Domingo A B F , Alejandro Marquez D , Martin Abreu A , Alejandro D’Anatro E and Alfredo Pereira D
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Proyecto Albatros y Petreles – Uruguay, Avenuenida Giannattasio Km. 30.500, El Pinar, Canelones, Uruguay.

B Departamento de Recursos Pelágicos, Dirección Nacional de Recursos Acuáticos, Constituyente 1497, C.P.11.200, Montevideo, Uruguay.

C Departamento de Ecología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Iguá 4225, Montevideo, Uruguay.

D Laboratorio de Bioquímica de Organismos Acuáticos, Dirección Nacional de Recursos Acuáticos, Constituyente 1497, C.P.11.200, Montevideo, Uruguay.

E Sección Evolución y Sistemática, Facultad de Ciencias. Universidad de la República, Iguá 4225, Montevideo, Uruguay.

F Corresponding author. Email: adomingo@dinara.gub.uy

Emu 109(4) 321-326 https://doi.org/10.1071/MU09048
Submitted: 7 June 2009  Accepted: 2 September 2009   Published: 4 December 2009

Abstract

We analyse the interactions of seabirds with the Uruguayan long-line fishing fleet in the south-western Atlantic Ocean, with a focus on White-capped Albatrosses (Thalassarche (cauta) steadi). The aim of this work is to determine the species composition of the incidental by-catch of seabirds and assess the importance (in terms of abundance) of White-capped Albatross in the seabird assemblage attending this fishery. Counts of seabirds associated with fishing vessels (n = 132 counts) were made during five commercial fishing trips in Uruguayan waters, and the incidental by-catch of seabirds per line-set (n = 44 line-sets) was recorded. Of 25 species of seabird recorded in association with the vessels, five were incidentally caught on long-lines. The relative frequency of occurrence of shy-type albatrosses (cauta-type) observed was 25% and their abundance was in the range 0–20 birds; most birds seen were immatures. The three specimens of shy-type albatrosses caught, along with two other specimens caught by the fleet in 2004, were identified by molecular analysis. All were confirmed to be White-capped Albatrosses, suggesting this species is the predominant one among the shy-type albatrosses occurring in the region. Before this study, there was little information on seabirds for this region of the south-western Atlantic Ocean and it was not included in the distribution of the White-capped Albatross. However, the results of this study confirm its occurrence in this region, expanding its global range and show that it is exposed to pelagic long-line fisheries in this part of the Atlantic.


Acknowledgements

This work was made possible by the Programa Nacional de Observadores de la Flota Atunera Uruguaya (PNOFA), Departamento de Recursos Pelágicos, Dirección Nacional de Recursos Acuáticos. This work was undertaken in the frame of the Proyecto Albatros y Petreles – Uruguay, and was funded by the ‘Save the Albatross Campaign’ sponsored by the International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators (IAATO), Birds Australia, and Birdlife International’s ‘Save the Albatross’ campaign. Special thanks go to Storrs Olson for comments on an early version of the manuscript. We thank Stella Weng for comments on the text and assistance with the translation and Graham Robertson, Barry Baker and anonymous referees for their comments and suggestions.


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