Feasibility and knowledge gaps to modeling circumpolar seabird bycatch in the Arctic

Abstract

Alteration and diminution in sea ice cover in the Arctic region will give rise to an intensifcation and expansion of fishing activities in the Arctic and associated marginal seas. Increased fshing activity, especially in the summer, could pose a direct threat to the millions of seabirds breeding in this region, as well as non-breeding migrants, and potentially result in an increase of bycatch mortality. To inform what conservation and management actions may be needed, an analysis of where seabirds/fsheries interaction are most likely to occur is required. Here, we establish what information would be required to efectively model circumpolar bycatch risk of seabirds in the Arctic, and then we assess the availability of the requisite data. The quality and availability of fshing efort, and bycatch monitoring efort data are not homogeneous among Arctic countries. Undertaking a true circumpolar analysis at this time would be difcult, and with the current data accessibility, many assumptions would have to be made, potentially leading to caveats in the results. Improved communications between the various agencies and institutes working on fsheries and seabirds would strengthen the quantitative basis for future analyses. We ofer suggestions on how to improve bycatch estimates and the identifcation of high-risk areas for seabird bycatch in the Arctic Bycatch reduction · Gillnet mortality · Longline mortality · Fisheries