“These birds are highly endangered,” says Andrea Angel of BirdLife South Africa, which runs the Albatross Task Force. “They mate for life, lay only one egg every two years, and both parents care for the chick. Losing one parent at sea can doom the chick.”
One effective solution is the use of bird-scaring lines. Colorful streamers hung over nets and lines keep birds away from hooks. BirdLife trains disabled workers from the Ocean View Association to make these lines, giving the workers purpose and supplementing their income.
Bird-scaring lines also benefit fishermen economically. Tuna can be worth thousands of dollars, while a bird has no commercial value. By using these lines, fishermen protect their catch and save tens of thousands of birds each year.
Since the task force was established in 2004, southern African fisheries have reduced seabird deaths by 90%. The hope is to expand this success worldwide, ensuring albatrosses can continue to thrive.
