DURHAM, N.C., April 4 (UPI) -- U.S. researchers say a new study could help reduce the number of albatrosses and other far-ranging seabirds killed by getting caught in longline fishing gear.
Scientists at Duke University in Durham, N.C., say new models using remotely sensed physical and biological data could bring down the number of bird casualties by predicting where and when birds and boats are likely to cross paths, a Duke release said Monday.
Condition such as sea surface temperatures or the availability of foods such a phytoplankton that make different parts of the ocean suitable habitats for the birds at different times of the year could be tracked and mapped, the researchers said.
Conservationists and fisheries managers could used the maps of predicted habitat suitability with maps of projected longline fishing activity to better avoid conflict between the two, they said.
The researchers tested the new models in case studies of two different species of albatross whose long-distance migration routes intersect areas of heavy swordfish and tuna fishing activity in Hawaiian fisheries.
Black-footed albatrosses were more frequently caught in longline fishing gear in 1997-2000 despite being 10 times less abundant than Laysan albatrosses, probably because the model's prediction confirmed their habitat overlapped more with fisheries.
