| Summary: | Albatrosses and petrels are truly birds of the oceans. These birds spend most of their lives at sea, and only return to land to breed. Most albatross and petrel species live only in the Southern Hemisphere, and many of these breed only in latitudes south of 450 (13 albatross species out ofa total of 24; Gales 1998). These birds breed mostly on sub-antarctic islands and range widely across the Southern Ocean - a large body of water that circles the continent of Antarctica, largely uninhibited by landmasses. Commercial longline fishing is a popular fishing method used to catch large pelagic and demersal fish, such as tuna and cod. Longlining, compared to other fishing methods such as driftnets, has been regarded as a size and species-selective technique which is "environmentally friendly' (Bjordal & Lokkeborg 1996; cited in Brothers et al. 1999). However, it has been found that a large amount of seabird incidental mortality at sea is largely a result of longline fishing activity. Both are concentrated in areas of ocean where there is a high level of biological productivity, and the foraging methods employed by feeding seabirds can lead them into danger. Albatrosses and petrels are truly birds of the oceans. These birds spend most of their lives at sea, and only return to land to breed. Most albatross and petrel species live only in the Southern Hemisphere, and many of these breed only in latitudes south of 450 (13 albatross species out ofa total of 24; Gales 1998). These birds breed mostly on sub-antarctic islands and range widely across the Southern Ocean - a large body of water that circles the continent of Antarctica, largely uninhibited by landmasses. Commercial longline fishing is a popular fishing method used to catch large pelagic and demersal fish, such as tuna and cod. Longlining, compared to other fishing methods such as driftnets, has been regarded as a size and species-selective technique which is "environmentally friendly' (Bjordal & Lokkeborg 1996; cited in Brothers et al. 1999). However, it ...
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