Lifeline for endangered albatross (BBC)

[eppur_se_muova]

The outlook for endangered seabirds looks better thanks to a scheme that reduces the numbers accidentally killed by the fishing industry.

Three-quarters of albatross species are at risk of extinction, largely due to the way long lines are deployed to catch fish such as tuna.

The birds are attracted to the baited lines and can become entangled and pulled underwater to their deaths.

A South African initiative shows how the lines can be made safer.

The Albatross Task Force (ATF) project was launched in 2006 and last year it cut the number of birds killed in South African fisheries by 85%.
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more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7905160.stm

Repeat: Eighty-five-freakin' per cent!! And at minimal cost. What prevented them from doing this earlier?

[XemaSab]

1. This should have been done a long time ago

The birds are White-chinned Petrels, Giant Petrels, Shy Albatross and Yellow-nosed Albatross caught during ONE fishing trip.

[eppur_se_muova]

2. And many killed while *poaching* "Chilean Sea Bass ---

aka Patagonian Toothfish. Now basically "commercially extinct", IIRC.

[stuntcat]

3. .

:cry: I'm in love with seabirds now.

[Sal Minella]

4. From my high school Lit class....the punishment of the Mariner was terrible,

for killing the albatross, and ours will also be terrible if we can't stop this, and for the right reasons.