Operation Albacore: Distressing Footage of the Devastating Impacts of By-Catch.

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• published: 29 Jun 2016
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Distressing Footage of the Devastating Impacts of By-Catch. The crew of The MV Bob Barker has captured distressing footage of the devastating impacts of by-catch. Of the total global catch of Atlantic tuna, 20% is caught in Gabon’s Exclusive Economic Zone, primarily by large industrial purse seine fishing operators. This method of fishing involves a net being deployed around an entire area or school of fish. The lead line of the net is then pulled in, "pursing" the net closed on the bottom, preventing fish from escaping by swimming downward. Often, non-target species such as sharks, dolphins, rays and turtles also become trapped in the nets. These unwanted species are known as by-catch. If the animals survive the stress of the encounter and the weight of the surrounding fish as they are hauled on to deck, they are released back into the ocean. However, many die and are subsequently discarded as waste. Through monitoring and documentation, Sea Shepherd is assisting Gabonese authorities in their efforts to mitigate incidental mortality and serious injury caused as a result of by-catch. “By-catch is a major contributor to overfishing globally, and has devastating impacts on the world’s oceans,” said Operation Albacore Campaign Leader, Captain Peter Hammarstedt. “We commend the Government of Gabon for tackling this issue, head-on and are honoured to be able to assist in their efforts to improve monitoring and enforcement in Gabonese waters,” he concluded.