These species have all been recorded as caught in midwater and pelagic trawls including those described as “middle depth” (International Standard Classification of Fishing Gears codes 03.21, 03.29-03.9).

There are 45 species of seabirds recorded caught in pelagic and midwater trawls. Almost all of these, 38 of the 45 species, are tubenoses (Procellariiformes), and 10 of these 45 are albatrosses. Thirteen of the overall 45 species, including five of the albatrosses, are either non-diving or very shallow-diving species, suggesting that these birds are being caught only when the net is being hauled and close to the surface. Many of the remaining species may also possibly be caught when the net is near the surface.

This suggests that an important way to reduce seabird bycatch in these trawls would require making changes when hauling the net.

If you are interested in more details about bycatch in any of these species, go to the map tool, choose “Explore by Species,” select the species (probably easiest in the “Common name” drop-down box), submit the query, and get a comprehensive report for your species of interest. The report will list all of the references regarding bycatch in the “Gear Interaction References” section.

Penguins (Sphenisciformes)

Gentoo Penguin Pygoscelis papua
Magellanic Penguin Spheniscus magellanicus

Albatrosses (Procellariiformes)

Wandering Albatross Diomedea exulans
Southern Royal Albatross Diomedea epomophora
Northern Royal Albatross Diomedea sanfordi
Black-browed Albatross Thalassarche melanophris
Campbell Albatross Thalassarche impavida
Shy Albatross Thalassarche cauta
Salvin’s Albatross Thalassarche salvini
Gray-headed Albatross Thalassarche chrysostoma
Atlantic Yellow-nosed Albatross Thalassarche chlororhynchos
Buller’s Albatross Thalassarche bulleri

Petrels and Shearwaters (Procellariiformes)

Southern Giant Petrel Macronectes giganteus
Northern Giant Petrel Macronectes halli
Northern Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis
Southern Fulmar Fulmarus glacialoides
Antarctic Petrel Thalassoica antarctica
Cape Petrel Daption capense
Snow Petrel Pagodroma nivea
Salvin’s Prion Pachyptila salvini
Antarctic Prion Pachyptila desolata
Fairy Prion Pachyptila turtur
Fulmar Prion Pachyptila crassirostris
White-headed Petrel Pterodroma lessonii
Gray-faced Petrel Pterodroma gouldi
Gray Petrel Procellaria cinerea
White-chinned Petrel Procellaria aequinoctialis
Black Petrel Procellaria parkinsoni
Westland Petrel Procellaria westlandica
Sooty Shearwater Ardenna grisea
Short-tailed Shearwater Ardenna tenuirostris
Flesh-footed Shearwater Ardenna carneipes
Great Shearwater Ardenna gravis

Storm Petrels and Diving Petrels (Procellariiformes)

Wilson’s Storm Petrel Oceanites oceanicus
Gray-backed Storm Petrel Garrodia nereis
Black-bellied Storm Petrel Fregetta tropica
Leach’s Storm Petrel Oceanodroma leucorhoa
Common Diving Petrel Pelecanoides urinatrix

Boobies and Cormorants (Suliformes)

Northern Gannet Morus bassanus
Cape Gannet Morus capensis
Spotted Shag Phalacrocorax punctatus

Gulls and Terns (Charadriiformes)

South American Tern Sterna hirundinacea

Alcids (Charadriiformes)

Common Murre Uria aalge