Guidelines for the safe seabird rescue, handling, and recovery onboard purse seine fisheries

Extensive knowledge exists regarding the causes and outcomes of seabird bycatch across various fisheries, whether small-scale or industrial. Furthermore, ongoing studies are examining the impact of new netting techniques, such as purse seine and gillnet fishing, on non-target species, shedding light on their effects. However, addressing sub-lethal entanglements in fishing gear and enabling seabird rescue onboard remains limited. Thus, this document emphasizes purse seine fisheries to assess how ad hoc actions and tools can aid in implementing best practices among crew members, including the safe rescue and handling of seabirds. The document provides recommendations for safe handling techniques and the utilization of appropriate tools for rescuing trapped or entangled seabirds, as well as mitigating seabird strikes on deck caused by light attraction or adverse weather conditions. Lastly, it underscores the importance of integrating these actions onboard, particularly in response to health contingencies like the ongoing high pathogenicity avian influenza panzootic.