Please select your home edition
Edition
X-Yachts X4.0

How to Help Stop the 'Longliners'

by Sail-World Cruising on 4 Mar 2008
Turtle caught by longline fishing SW
Dolphins, Albatross and Turtles. The long line fishing boats are killing them all as they indiscriminately fish the Pacific Ocean - but now if you are on a cruising yacht you can help report the activities of these marauders of the sea.

There's nothing more magnificent for the cruising sailor than the cry of 'Dolphins'. In large pods, or small, they play around the bow of the boat, and, if you're lucky, turn on their side to stare up at you. Then there are the turtles, those great clumsy land creatures who become so graceful in the water. And the albatross, sitting as placidly in rough waters hundreds of mile from land as a duck on a backyard pond.

But the long line fishing boats are killing them, so that the ocean crossing cruising boats are seeing fewer and fewer of the once frequent marine life.

What is a 'long-liner'? Long-line fishing is a commercial fishing technique that uses hundreds or even thousands of baited hooks hanging from a single line.

Swordfish, tuna, halibut, sablefish,Patagonian toothfish and countless other species are commonly targeted by long-liners. Large commercial long-liners in certain fisheries of the Bering Sea and North Pacific generally run over 2500 hand-baited hooks on a single series of connected lines many miles in length. Long-lines can be set to hang near the surface, and is controversial because of the by-catch.

Some gear modifications have been developed on some fishing ships to deter birds. However, gear modifications do not eliminate by-catch of many species, including dolphins and turtles, which are caught and killed but then discarded, and the controversy continues.

In March 2006, the Hawaii long-line swordfish fishing season was closed due to excessive loggerhead sea turtle by-catch. The loggerhead turtle is an endangered species.

Now you have the opportunity to report this fishing activity. If you see suspicious fishing activity you can report it to C2C, a superyacht agent on the west coast of the USA, via their Captain Drewelow, just by filling in a downloadable form, who will forward it to activists who are working in the field.

If you don't have internet on your boat, download the form now, and take it with you when you go cruising.

Click here to download the form, and then send the information to info@yachtaidglobal.org

Editor's Note: We have had a large number of comments about this story, both for and against the Longliners. To read more about the problem in the North Atlantic, go to this website: http://www.npfmc.com/

Pantaenius Sail 2025 AUS FooterSelden 2020 - FOOTERV-DRY-X

Related Articles

Sailing's Glitterati prepare for the Admiral's Cup
The depth and quality of talent is truly breathtaking. The 2025 Admiral's Cup is shaping up to be one of the most compelling editions in the event's storied history, featuring a glittering constellation of the sport's elite.
Posted today at 9:55 am
West System Six10 Epoxy cartridges are back!
Pre-thickened, gap filling epoxy back after a disruption to supply for an extended time ATL Composites is very happy to announce that WEST SYSTEM Six10 Epoxy Cartridge Packs are now available again to the Australian and Asian markets.
Posted today at 8:34 am
New safety standards announced
For GCCM Gold Coast Mackay Yacht Race 2025 After the release of the findings into the tragic events of the Rolex Sydney Hobart 2024 by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, Southport Yacht Club has announced a safety revision to their Notice of Race for the GCCM Gold Coast Mackay Yacht Race.
Posted today at 7:40 am
Foiling Sport Congress gathers global players
To shape the Future of Foiling Last week, Malcesine hosted the first-ever Foiling Sport Congress — a by-invitation event organised to foster an in-depth discussion on the current state and future developments of foiling across all disciplines.
Posted today at 5:59 am
Readying for SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week
All competitors will have equal amount of racing and fun Whether you are sailing the largest boats in the fleet, such as 60 footers Awen and Samurai, or the smallest, like Guilty Pleasures X and Peow Peow, at 6.50 metres each, all competitors will have equal amount of racing and fun.
Posted today at 5:04 am
OK Dinghy Europeans at Warnemünde day 2
Charlie Cumbley leads at the half-way stage Britain's Charlie Cumbley holds a two-point lead at the half-way stage of the 2025 OK Dinghy European Championship in Warnemünde, Germany, after two more races were held on Monday.
Posted today at 4:14 am
Gran Canaria Gloria Windsurf World Cup Day 3
The best female wave sailors in the world showcase their skills on the global stage After the men had taken centre stage for the opening two days of the 2025 Gran Canaria Gloria Windsurf World Cup, today was the day for the best female wave sailors in the world to showcase their skills on the global stage.
Posted today at 4:11 am
Transpac Onboard Episode 4
Anything Can Happen at Sea All Transpac 2025 competitors are now at sea and actively racing to Hawaii. We take a look at the Pasha Live Race Tracker and talk about the significant wind hole confronting a contingent of competitors.
Posted today at 3:06 am
Stops & re-starts in first two legs of AEGEAN 600
A tough first night and early morning spent fighting zephyrs getting through the Cyclades After a beautiful breezy start yesterday, but a tough first night and early morning spent fighting zephyrs getting through the Cyclades, at the end of today's daylight the AEGEAN 600 fleet is back on the move.
Posted on 7 Jul
British Classic Week Day 1
Northerly winds gusting 22 knots make for a brisk start Day one at British Classic Week in Cowes saw fast-paced racing around the cans sponsored by Spirit Yachts for over 50 classic and modern classic yachts.
Posted on 7 Jul