Lithuania
Our focus is on small artisanal gillnetters, fishing for cod in the spring and autumn. For this type of fishery we have not yet determined the most effective way to reduce seabird bycatch, so a lot of this work will involve trialling different mitigation measures and inventing solutions alongside fishermen. We are working along Lithuania’s
Poland
Our focus is on the small-scale set gillnet fleet, which fishes for cod in the spring, winter and autumn. We are working with the Polish National Marine Fisheries Research Institute NMFRI, the Polish Society for the Protection of Birds (OTOP, BirdLife in Poland) and the local fishing fleet to test possible solutions to prevent or reduce bycatch in
Portugal
Our focus is on the small-scale set gillnet fleet fishing around the Berlengas archipelago. Some of the fleet also switch gears to demersal longlining. The fleet targets a number of fish species, including hake and the key period for seabird bycatch is December-February. We are working with the Portuguese Society for the Study of Birds
Spain
The Seabird Task Force is working in the Spanish Mediterranean, where small, artisanal boats fish year round for sea bream, hake and shark using longlines set at the sea floor. Based on our work in other parts of the world, we have already established effective solutions and best practice to reduce seabird bycatch in this
Albatross Task Force
The Albatross Task Force is an international team dedicated to saving the albatross by working on board fishing vessels and in ports with the fishing industry. Coordinated and funded through the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, BirdLife’s Partner in the UK, the international team is working across numerous countries in South America