Rare Albatross Makes Remarkable Recovery After Swallowing Multiple Fishing Hooks

A Salvin’s Albatross, one of the least studied seabird species in the world, has returned to the wild after it successfully recovered from life-saving surgery that removed four large fishing hooks and the fishing line it ingested off the coast of South America. This latest unintended fisheries incident highlights the global risk of bycatch — the accidental capture of nontarget marine wildlife by fisheries — and the importance of actions taken by commercial and artisanal fisheries to address threats to seabirds.

The juvenile Salvin’s Albatross was found by Juan Alberto Infante, a fisherman from Anconcito, Ecuador, who recognized that the bird was unwell and contacted local authorities. The albatross was under wildlife rehabilitation care in Puerto López after the ingested hooks and fishing line were successfully removed by Ruben Aleman, a local veterinarian with Fundación Juvimar. After careful evaluation, it was released in late October on a nearby beach in Manabí province.

“Thanks to the timely report from an artisanal fisher, we were able to rescue this Salvin’s Albatross that had been grounded for several days in the port of Anconcito,” said Giovanny Suárez Espín, Ecuador Seabird Bycatch Coordinator for American Bird Conservancy (ABC).

“Through coordination with Ecuador’s Ministry of the Environment’s local representative (REMACOPSE) and a specialized veterinarian, we successfully removed four fishing hooks from the bird, including one that caused injuries to its esophagus. The type and size of the hooks suggest they came from the artisanal mahi-mahi fishery, which poses a risk to albatrosses. While reducing bycatch in this type of fishery is challenging, we continue to promote best practices and more sustainable tools to minimize incidental seabird capture,” Espín said.

The Salvin’s Albatross is a rare seabird species that breeds on several rugged and remote subantarctic islands hundreds of miles south of New Zealand. Also known as Salvin’s Mollymawk, they spend most of their lives at sea, foraging around New Zealand and Australia during the breeding period. After breeding, they fly thousands of miles nonstop over open ocean to the Pacific coast off South America in search of food.

Because seabirds are so mobile and inhabit such a large area, it takes the efforts of many countries to protect them. Together with researchers in Ecuador and Peru, New Zealand’s Department of Conservation (DOC) has been working closely to study this species and advocate for the fishing industry to take measures to prevent seabird bycatch.

DOC Senior Science Advisor Dr. Johannes Fischer says no fisher wants to catch threatened seabirds. “We work closely with the fishing industry in New Zealand and abroad to improve mitigation and minimize accidental deaths from bycatch.”

Fischer says a better understanding of the behavior of Salvin’s Albatross and other seabirds is crucial to help protect them.

“While we collect tracking data from devices attached to adult Salvin’s Albatross, currently information on the movements of juveniles comes solely from observations. DOC plans to fit trackers onto juveniles at the end of this breeding season through a collaboration with Universidad Científica del Sur in Lima, Peru, which will directly inform seabird research partnerships in Peru, Ecuador, and other countries.”

Dr. Carlos Zavalaga, Director of the Seabird Ecology and Conservation Research Unit from Universidad Cientifica del Sur, Lima, Peru, says tracking endangered New Zealand albatrosses that migrate to Peruvian offshore waters is essential to bridge the gap between conservation and fisheries management.

“These long-distance travelers depend on the productivity of the Humboldt Current to feed, yet each migration carries the silent risk of being hooked on longlines — a reminder that effective protection must transcend national boundaries.”

The Salvin’s Albataross population has declined significantly from approximately 88,000 breeding pairs in the 1970s to about 50,000 today. The species starts breeding from about 11 years old and only lay one egg per year, so if something is affecting the juvenile population, there can be a big delay before negative impacts are seen.

Seabird populations have declined by more than 70 percent globally since 1950. Yet, they’re essential because their droppings nourish entire ocean and island ecosystems across the globe. Unfortunately, 15 of the world’s 22 albatross species are threatened with extinction. Fishing vessels and equipment including gillnets, baited longlines, and trawls remain a global threat because they attract numerous foraging seabirds that are drawn to discarded fish and other food sources. Up to hundreds of thousands of seabirds are estimated to die from accidental net entanglement, gear ingestion, being caught on hooks, and related injuries each year.

New Zealand holds one of the highest diversities of seabirds in the world, with about 145 species found in its waters and 95 of those breeding on its coasts and islands.

“Seabirds are one of the most threatened groups of birds globally, facing additional threats like overfishing, climate change, plastic pollution, and habitat loss. We all need to work together to protect these remarkable, wide-ranging animals,” Fischer said.

DOC’s Marine Bycatch and Threats team runs the Conservation Services Programme, which is funded by levies from the fishing industry that support the management, research, and bycatch mitigation of commercial fishing operations. This effort is further supported by the International Seabird Strategy, which guides government work to reduce seabird bycatch beyond New Zealand’s waters, including collaborations with Ecuador and Peru.

In Ecuador, ABC’s Marine Program has been engaged in long-term bycatch reduction efforts by working with artisanal longline fisheries in developing new methods that are safer for seabirds.

“More than 2,000 fishers are helping us with bird conservation now,” said ABC’s Espín. “The fishermen know that whenever they see a seabird species injured or one that has an issue, they have to let us know. And that’s what this fisherman colleague from Anconcito did.”

ABC and partners have also developed the NISURI device, which deploys and sinks lines faster than traditional techniques, preventing seabirds from accidentally becoming hooked by baited lines floating at the surface. Watch Caught By Mistake to learn more about ABC’s work to develop innovative solutions and safer fishing practices that benefit both seabirds and people.

For further information on how to reduce albatross bycatch, visit the Albatross Task Force.

Support seabird conservation today! Your gift to ABC’s Marine Program will help protect these magnificent birds and conserve their habitats for future generations. Support ABC’s Marine Program »

ABC gratefully acknowledges the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, Lynn & Stuart White, and other generous donors for their support of this ongoing project.