Saving the Antipodean albatross – Seabird-Safe Fishing Toolkit Launched

Efforts to save critically at-risk seabirds, including the Antipodean albatross, from extinction moved ahead with the launch of the Seabird-Safe Fishing Toolkit from Southern Seabirds Trust.  

The Seabird-Safe Fishing Toolkit is an interactive online resource designed to help fishing companies make their operations safer for seabirds. 

Janice Molloy of Southern Seabirds Trust has spearheaded the development of the toolkit in partnership with a team of people at the Department of Conservation, with support from Live Ocean Foundation and others.  

The Toolkit provides practical, science-based guidance that large pelagic longline vessels (over 24 metres) can apply anywhere in the world — especially on the high seas, where the risk to vulnerable seabirds is greatest. 

Off the back of new Seabird-Safe fishing rules introduced here in Aotearoa New Zealand for New Zealand tuna fleets on 1 January, the launch of the toolkit will support the effort to encourage international fleets and all players in the global tuna industry to adopt gold-standard fishing practices to keep our seabirds safe.  

The Toolkit is designed for everyone involved in tuna fishing — from fishing companies and fishery managers to sustainability assessors, NGOs, and seafood buyers — to help make fishing practices safer for seabirds. It includes;  

• An interactive global risk map 

• A company assessment and improvement tool 

• Clear, practical guidance for fishers 

It’s built on the best available science and offers a single trusted source of information to support better decisions across the tuna supply chain. 

The Toolkit is now available in English, Japanese, Traditional Chinese, and Simplified Chinese.