Pukyong National University

Professor Lee Seong-il’s Research Team Proposes Measures to Reduce Seabird Bycatch on Distant-Water Fishing Vessels

- Published in the international journal <Ocean & Coastal Management>

- Featured as major news on the ACAP website

Professor Lee Seong-il from the Department of Marine Production System Management at Pukyong National University has proposed a sustainable fisheries management strategy to effectively reduce seabird bycatch on Korean distant-water longline vessels.

Professor Lee Seong-il‘s research paper, titled ‘The experimental trials of line weighting options for reduction of incidental mortality of seabirds in Korean tuna longline vessels’, was recently published in <Ocean & Coastal Management>, a leading international journal in the field of marine and fisheries science.

The study demonstrated that using the ‘Lumo Lead®,’ a weighted device attached to fishing lines, significantly reduces seabird bycatch without negatively impacting the catch rate of target species or the safety of crew members.

This collaborative study, conducted by Professor Lee Seong-il alongside international researchers from South Africa, Spain, Japan, and others, was featured as a headline article on the website of The Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels (ACAP)―an international environmental convention―highlighting its global relevance.

Currently, all major Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs) for tuna have made bycatch mitigation measures mandatory to protect seabirds such as albatrosses. These regulations include attaching weighted sinkers to branch lines. However, concerns remain, as the process of installing these weights can be complex, and there are potential risks of reduced catch rates and crew safety issues.

In collaboration with the National Institute of Fisheries Science and BirdLife International, Professor Lee Seong-il’s research team conducted a field study involving seven Korean tuna longline vessels. By comparing seabird bycatch rates between branch lines with and without weights (specifically, the Lumo Lead®), the study demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in incidental seabird mortality when weighted lines were used.

Professor Lee Seong-il emphasized, “This study confirms that weighted branch lines are a safe and effective method to reduce seabird bycatch in Korean longline fisheries. However, the use of sinkers alone cannot completely eliminate seabirds by catch. It is essential to combine this with other mitigation measures, such as bird-scaring lines and night setting.”

This research offers scientific evidence applicable not only to Korean longline operations but also to global distant-water fisheries, contributing to the establishment of more sustainable fishery management systems. <Pukyong Today>