Comparison of the effectiveness of paired and single tori lines for preventing bait attacks by seabirds and their bycatch in pelagic longline fisheries
Experiments were conducted aboard pelagic longline vessels in the western North Pacific to determine the effectivness of paired tori lines in reducing seabird bycatch. Paired tori lines (PT) were compared against single tori lines (ST) during these tests. The most abundant species of bird attacking longlines was the Laysan albatross (90.2%). There was a significant difference in the mean number of albatross and shearwater birds between ST and PT deployments, with the mean number of birds being lower with PT deployments.