There are 21 species of albatross currently under the threat of extinction. The situation is as serious as the fate dolphins faced from tuna fishermen in the 80s before public awareness and pressure brought about a change in fishing techniques. Longlining - thousands of hooks baited and dragged on a line up to 130km long behind fishing vessels - kills more than 300,000 seabirds each year by drowning.

Unless measures are taken, such as weighting the line, defrosting bait, flying bird-scaring lines and setting hooks at night, albatrosses can easily scavenge baited hooks and become caught,

leading to a slow and painful death by drowning. Around 80% of killings can be prevented by implementing a straightforward and accepted set of mitigation measures.

Between a third and a half of all the birds caught as by-catch from longlining are killled by illegal, pirate fishing boats. The problem could be drastically reduced if governments take the necessary steps to ensure these boats are not allowed to operate and longline fishing by practices are executed in a more environmentally friendly manner, saving the lives of the birds and increasing the fishermen's yield.

The Agreement for the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels (ACAP) requires signatory states to take specific measures to reduce seabird by-catch from longline fishing and improve the conservation status of the birds. This project will highlight the need for all relevant longlining countries to sign and ratify the legally binding agreement – 11 have done so to date, with some Asian countries desperately needed to commit themselves.