印度洋鮪魚委員會（IOTC，Indian Ocean Tuna Commission）於本月初在阿曼（Omen）首府馬斯開特開會，會中IOTC通過決議，將改進漁業作業方式，儘可能避免意外捕獲（bycatch）生存受威脅的信天翁及海燕等海鳥，即避免漁網意外傷及鳥類。
全球共22種的信天翁都是屬於保育鳥類，而其中有19種面臨著全球性的滅絕危機；據估計，全球每5分鐘就有1隻信天翁死掉。然而，大多數海鳥的死亡都不是漁民有意捕捉造成的──牠們並並不是延繩釣漁船想捕獲 而是因為延繩釣漁業意外，而讓原本不是捕捉目標的信天翁反而被捕捉。
懸掛在海平面下方約200公尺處的延繩釣網，主要是用來捕捉鮪魚及旗魚，每條延繩釣網繫有3000個餌鉤，長度有可能超出100公里。漁船撒網時，海鳥會啄食漁鉤上的誘餌，因而上鉤或是被纏住，接著就沉下水面溺斃。
為了防止上述情況，澳洲及歐洲在IOTC年會中共同提出海鳥保育計畫，並獲得日本與韓國的支持。該次會議在馬斯開特香格里拉飯店（Barr Al Jissah Resort and Spa）舉行，共為期5天，已於11日閉幕。
根據IOTC通過的新規定，為減少意外捕獲海鳥的數量，漁船必須採取至少2種以上的迴避措施，才能在南緯30度的南印度洋區域進行延繩漁釣。且每一種捕捉工具的技術規格都已在會議中訂好了，延繩漁釣業者可以從清單中選擇2種他們認為最合適的方式。
漁船可採用的措施包括，在夜晚鳥類活動力較低時，漁船的操作人員可以選擇將鉤子維持在最低的照明程度；此外，他們可以使用避鳥纜或繩索等來避免鳥類接近鉤子、增加繩索重量讓繩索在被信天翁碰到前更快沉入海中，以及將魚餌染成較不顯眼的藍色等，來降低海鳥的傷亡。
The Indian Ocean Tuna Commission meeting this week in Muscat has advanced seabird conservation by adopting a measure to minimize the bycatch of vulnerable albatross and petrel species.
All 22 species of albatross are birds of conservation concern and 19 species are facing global extinction. Globally, albatrosses are estimated to be dying at the rate of one every five minutes.
Most of these seabird deaths are not intentional, they are considered the catch of non-target species, or bycatch, in the longline fishing industry.
Surface longlines are suspended about 200 meters beneath the surface and are used to catch tuna and swordfish. Each longline might exceed 100 kilometers (60 miles) in length and carry 3,000 baited hooks. When longlines are paid out from vessels, seabirds attack the baited hooks, get caught or entangled in gear, are drawn underwater and drown.
In Muscat, the seabird proposal was led by Australia and the European Community, and got support from Japan and Korea during the five day meeting at the Shangri-La's Barr Al Jissah Resort and Spa, which concluded Wednesday.
Under the newly adopted regulation, all longline vessels fishing for tuna and swordfish in the southern Indian Ocean, south of 30°S, will be required to use a combination of at least two measures to reduce seabird bycatch.
The fisheries are given flexibility to choose which two measures from this list are most suitable to their fishery. The meeting agreed technical specifications for use of these measures.
Fishing vessel operators can choose to set their hooks at night with minimum deck lighting when birds are less active.
They can choose to use a bird streamer, or tori, line to keep birds away from the hooks, add weight to lines to make them sink more quickly out of reach of the albatrosses, and dye bait blue to make it less visible.
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In my healing journey and learning to attain the breath awareness, I become aware of the reality that all the creatures of the world are breathing the same breath. Take action, here and now. From my physical being to the every corner of this out of balance's planet.
