News Ecosystems

Streamers could save birds from hooks

By Susan Milius

- More than 2 years ago

Fluttering streamers could save seabirds from fatal encounters with many longline

The short-tailed albatross. Rob Shallenberger

Seabirds that are sometimes snagged by hooks could be saved by streamers trailing from a fishing boat. Melvin

fishing boats, according to a big study.

The streamers could also save part of the U.S. fishing fleet from the financial

consequences of accidentally killing endangered species, says Ed Melvin of the

federally funded Washington Sea Grant Program in Seattle.