Report of the 2018 Meeting of NOAA 

Fisheries’ National Seabird Program

Lisa T. Ballance, Lee R. Benaka, Sarah U. Ellgen, Shannon M. 

Fitzgerald, Annette E. Henry, Mi Ae Kim, Stacey L. Nathanson, 

and Trevor W. Joyce

U.S. Department of Commerce

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

National Marine Fisheries Service

NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-F/SPO-193

April 2019

Report of the 2018 Meeting of NOAA Fisheries’ National 

Seabird Program

Lisa T. Ballance1, Lee R. Benaka2, Sarah U. Ellgen3, Shannon M. Fitzgerald4, Annette E. Henry1, 

Mi Ae Kim5, Stacey L. Nathanson6, and Trevor W. Joyce1

1NOAA Fisheries Southwest Fisheries Science Center, La Jolla, CA 92037

2NOAA Fisheries Office of Science and Technology, Silver Spring, MD 20910

3NOAA Fisheries Pacific Islands Regional Office, Honolulu, HI 96818

4NOAA Fisheries Alaska Fisheries Science Center, Seattle, WA 98115

5NOAA Fisheries International Affairs and Seafood Inspection Office, Silver Spring, MD 20910

6NOAA Fisheries General Counsel, Silver Spring, MD 20910

NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-F/SPO-193

April 2019

U.S. Department of Commerce

Wilbur L. Ross, Jr., Secretary 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Neil Jacobs, Ph.D., NOAA Assistant Secretary for Environmental Observation & Prediction

National Marine Fisheries Service

Chris Oliver, Assistant Administrator for Fisheries
ii

Recommended citation:

Lisa T. Ballance, Lee R. Benaka, Sarah U. Ellgen, Shannon M. Fitzgerald, Annette E. Henry, 

Mi Ae Kim, Stacey L. Nathanson, and Trevor W. Joyce. 2019. Report of the 2018 Meeting of 

NOAA Fisheries’ National Seabird Program. NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFS-F/SPO-193, 41 p.

Copies of this report may be obtained from:

Office of Science and Technology

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 

1315 East-West Highway, SSMC3, Room No. 12661 

Silver Spring, MD 20910

Or online at:

http://spo.nmfs.noaa.gov/tech-memos/
iii

Table of Contents

Executive Summary .......................................................................................................................................1

Background - NOAA Fisheries’ National Seabird Program ............................................................................2

The 2009 National Seabird Workshop...........................................................................................................3

The 2018 Meeting of the National Seabird Program ....................................................................................4

Summaries of Working Group Discussions....................................................................................................5

Strategic Initiative 1: Monitor and Estimate Seabird Bycatch.......................................................................5

Strategic Initiative 2: Mitigate Seabird Bycatch ............................................................................................7

Strategic Initiative 3: Strengthen Key Partnerships.......................................................................................9

Strategic Initiative 4: Promote Seabirds in Advancing Ecosystem-Based Fisheries Management (EBFM).12

Strategic Initiative 5: Elevate Awareness of and Support for the National Seabird Program.....................15

Next Steps....................................................................................................................................................17

Acknowledgements .....................................................................................................................................17

Literature Cited............................................................................................................................................17

Appendix 1. Attendees of the 2018 Meeting of NOAA Fisheries’ National Seabird Program. ...................18

Appendix 2. Draft Strategic Plan presented at the 2018 Meeting of NOAA Fisheries’ National Seabird 

Program .......................................................................................................................................................20

Appendix 3. Agenda for the 2018 Meeting of NOAA Fisheries’ National Seabird Program. ......................24

Appendix 4. Abstracts of talks presented at the 2018 Meeting of NOAA Fisheries’ National Seabird 

Program. ......................................................................................................................................................28

Appendix 5. Membership of the five Strategic Initiative Working Groups at the 2018 Meeting of NOAA 

Fisheries’ National Seabird Program. ..........................................................................................................41

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Executive Summary

NOAA Fisheries’ National Seabird Program (NSP) was created in response to Executive Order (EO) 13186 

(Responsibilities of Federal Agencies to Protect Migratory Birds) and the U.S. National Plan of Action for 

Reducing the Incidental Catch of Seabirds in Longline Fisheries. The NSP is a crosscutting group of 

managers and scientists who work domestically and internationally to protect and conserve seabirds as 

guided by statutes and emerging agency priorities. The NSP has two overarching goals: (1) mitigate 

bycatch and (2) promote seabirds as ecosystem indicators.

In 2018, the NSP convened a two-day meeting to: (1) revisit and refine the NSP mission and vision, and 

(2) draft a five-year NSP strategic plan. NSP representatives from every NOAA Fisheries science center, 

and regional and headquarters office, as well as invited participants from NOAA’s National Ocean 

Service (NOS), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Bureau of Ocean Energy Management 

(BOEM), and Regional Fishery Management Councils (RFMCs) were in attendance.

Prior to the meeting, a steering committee, with input from the broader NSP, developed five strategic 

initiatives that formed the framework for a draft strategic plan: 

(1) monitor and estimate seabird bycatch; 

(2) mitigate seabird bycatch; 

(3) strengthen key partnerships; 

(4) promote seabirds in advancing ecosystem-based fisheries management; and 

(5) elevate awareness of and support for the National Seabird Program.

At the meeting, background presentations associated with each initiative were given, and working 

groups discussed revisions to the NSP mission statement and drafted goals and milestones associated 

with each strategic initiative.

The working groups were remarkably productive and significantly advanced the development of goals 

and milestones associated with their strategic initiative. This information was presented during the final 

hour of the meeting as the framework for NSP’s five-year strategic plan.

The steering committee for the 2018 NOAA Fisheries’ National Seabird Program Meeting, along with the 

broader NSP, will use the information obtained from this meeting to further develop its five-year 

strategic plan. The plan will follow calendar years, beginning in 2020 and ending in 2024. Our goal is to 

have the plan formalized, approved, and published as a NOAA Technical Memorandum by mid-to-late 

2019.
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Background - NOAA Fisheries’ National Seabird Program

Executive Order 13186 (EO 13186), Responsibilities of Federal Agencies to Protect Migratory Birds, was 

enacted in 2001 to promote the conservation of migratory bird populations. As directed by this order, 

NOAA Fisheries and the USFWS formalized a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that placed special 

emphasis on minimizing the impact of fishery interactions on seabirds, and the maintenance of healthy 

habitats and forage fish for seabirds. Also in 2001, the U.S. finalized its National Plan of Action for 

Reducing the Incidental Catch of Seabirds in Longline Fisheries (NPOA-Seabirds), which directed NOAA 

Fisheries to work with Fishery Management Councils, USFWS, and U.S. Department of State to mitigate 

seabird bycatch domestically and internationally.

In 2001, former NOAA Fisheries Assistant Administrator William Hogarth created a National Seabird 

Coordinator position to maintain a national perspective through coordinated regional activities 

pertaining to EO 13186 and the National Plan of Action (NPOA) for Seabirds. Each science center and 

regional and headquarters office was directed to (1) review EO 13186 and send comments regarding the 

content of the MOU to be developed with USFWS that this EO directed; (2) review the NPOA-Seabirds 

and begin its implementation; and (3) designate one staff contact person from each science center to 

work with the Coordinator on seabird issues pertaining to these two directives. Milestones associated 

with these directives were also drafted.

The National Seabird Coordinator and regional points of contact (POC) were formalized into NOAA 

Fisheries’ National Seabird Program (NSP) in a memo to former Assistant Administrator Eric Schwaab 

and former Chief Science Advisor for Fisheries Steven Murawski in 2011. That memo formalized the 

Coordinator’s primary roles and responsibilities, transferred the NSP to the Office of Science and 

Technology (OST), and directed the Office of Sustainable Fisheries to continue to work with the NSP 

Coordinator on bycatch-related issues. The provided an overview of recommendations from the 2009 

National Seabird Workshop (see below); these included creation of a National Seabird Strategic Plan and 

participation in the FY2013-2017 planning cycle with the intent of enhancing the NSP budget. The memo 

also summarized recommendations from the Science Board; these included emphasizing the importance 

of promoting seabirds as ecological indicators, maintaining the focus on seabird bycatch, and developing 

and implementing a National Seabird Strategic Plan.

A 2015 memo to former Assistant Administrator Eileen Sobeck, Deputy Assistant Administrator for 

Regulatory Programs Samuel Rauch III, and former Director of Scientific Programs and Chief Science 

Advisor Richard Merrick designated a new National Seabird Coordinator to succeed the previous 

coordinator, who had retired, clarified roles and responsibilities of that position and regional NSP POCs, 

and provided updates regarding the NSP. 

Today, the NSP is a cross-cutting group of managers and scientists who work domestically and 

internationally to protect and conserve seabirds. NSP activities are guided by statutes and policies (e.g., 

NPOA-Seabirds, EO 13186, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, Magnuson-Stevens Reauthorization Act, 

Endangered Species Act, National Environmental Policy Act, and Oil Pollution Act) and emerging agency 

priorities (e.g., Ecosystem-Based Fishery Management Policy and Road Map, the NOAA Fisheries Climate 

Science Strategy, Annual Guidance Memoranda). Together, these form the basis for NSP’s two 
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overarching goals: (1) mitigate bycatch and (2) promote seabirds as ecosystem indicators. The NSP 

works through representation on steering committees and working groups within and external to NOAA 

Fisheries and through partnerships with other NOAA Line Offices, regional Fishery Management 

Councils, the States, and other Federal agencies. NSP is represented through POC in all science centers 

and regional and headquarters offices. As such, it is a nationally coordinated program that benefits from 

significant leveraging at the regional level.

The 2009 National Seabird Workshop

In September, 2009, NOAA Fisheries convened a National Seabird Workshop in Seattle, WA, at the 

Alaska Fisheries Science Center. This was the first in-person, comprehensive planning exercise for the 

NSP. The primary goal of the workshop was to initiate the development of a National Seabird 

Implementation Plan to (1) describe NOAA Fisheries’ seabird activities and important partnerships, (2) 

guide NOAA Fisheries’ seabird management science, and (3) provide seabird-related input to NOAA’s 

strategic planning and budgeting process. 

Individuals from all six NOAA Fisheries regions and a number of headquarters offices, plus invited 

participants from USFWS, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the North Pacific Fishery Management 

Council, private consulting firms, universities, and private citizens attended. The first day was devoted to 

background presentations; the following two days were devoted to time for breakout groups to explore 

ideal regional strategies to address issues associated with each of four themes: (1) pelagic seabird 

abundance and distribution and overlap with fisheries; (2) anthropogenic impacts and mitigation; (3) 

management and coordination within and among agencies and with stakeholders on shared objectives; 

and (4) ecosystem approach to management – seabirds as indicators of marine health.

Six themes emerged as areas to be focused on in a 5-year timeframe: (1) continuing to work on seabird 

bycatch issues; (2) improving connections, networks, and outreach; (3) creating a multi-agency/entity 

inventory of spatial/temporal coverage of existing data and data collection methods; (4) using seabirds 

as indicators to improve ecosystem-based approaches to management; (5) formalizing the seabird 

program and adding necessary infrastructure; and (6) augmenting policy approaches. 

Three major steps were identified to begin implementation of these priorities: (1) create a report of the 

workshop (subsequently published as Rivera et al. 2014); (2) create a National Seabird Strategic Plan; 

and (3) create alternatives for the fiscal year cycle of NOAA’s strategic planning and budgeting process.

Subsequent to the workshop, the NSP and a steering committee developed a mission statement: 

“Maintain seabirds as integral components of healthy and resilient ocean ecosystems by conducting 

research on and mitigating threats to seabirds in the ocean and near-shore environment, and by raising 

awareness of National Marine Fisheries Service seabird-related activities and responsibilities” (Rivera et 

al. 2014). Six program goals were also identified: 

(1) quantify, reduce, and mitigate impacts on seabirds due to fisheries; 

(2) incorporate seabird ecology into NOAA Fisheries’ ecosystem approach to management; 
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(3) raise awareness of NOAA Fisheries’ seabird activities; 

(4) develop, implement, and maintain a National Seabird Program strategic plan; 

(5) support NOAA Fisheries’ regional seabird activities through obtaining funding and other 

resources;

(6) facilitate communication among NOAA Fisheries’ regional seabird programs to identify issues of 

common interest and opportunities for collaboration.

The 2018 Meeting of the National Seabird Program

In May of 2018, NSP convened a two-day meeting at NOAA Fisheries’ Southwest Fisheries Science 

Center (SWFSC), in La Jolla, CA. This was the second in-person, comprehensive planning exercise for the 

NSP, and was focused on achieving two goals: (1) revisit and refine the NSP mission and vision; and (2) 

draft a five-year NSP strategic plan. NSP representatives from every NOAA Fisheries science center, and 

regional and headquarters office, as well as invited participants from NOS, USFWS, BOEM, and RFMCs 

were in attendance (46 attendees, Appendix 1). 

For five months prior to the meeting, a steering committee (Ballance, Benaka, Ellgen, Fitzgerald, Henry, 

Kim, Nathanson) met biweekly to prepare. It was agreed that the NSP would maximally benefit from the 

face-to-face interactions among stakeholders if a framework for the strategic plan was already in place. 

Accordingly, five strategic initiatives were developed, some with draft goals, and these were put into a 

draft strategic plan (Appendix 2). The five strategic initiatives were: 

(1) monitor and estimate seabird bycatch;

(2) mitigate seabird bycatch;

(3) strengthen key partnerships;

(4) promote seabirds in advancing ecosystem-based fisheries management; and

(5) elevate awareness of and support for the NSP. 

These were based on existing areas of focus for the NSP, recommendations from the 2009 National 

Seabird Workshop, and existing and emerging agency priorities and strategies for fulfilling those. It was 

also agreed that the appropriate time frame for the strategic plan was five years, beginning in calendar 

year 2019. These ideas were discussed at the quarterly NSP call in April 2018, and subsequently agreed

upon by the program.

The meeting agenda was designed to devote equal time to background presentations associated with 

each of the five strategic initiatives and for working groups to further develop the strategic plan and 

refine NSP’s mission statement (Appendix 3). Specifically, the first day was devoted to opening remarks, 

and a general overview of the NSP and the draft strategic plan, followed by background talks pertaining 

to each strategic initiative (Appendix 4). The second day was largely a working day, during which time 

five working groups, each associated with a particular strategic initiative (Appendix 5), discussed 

revisions to the NSP mission statement and drafted goals (defined as an aim or desired result) and 

milestones for carrying out the strategic initiative (defined as an action or event marking a significant 
5

change or stage in development). Working groups were also encouraged to link milestones with 

timelines and POC to the extent possible. 

The working groups were remarkably productive during the short time allotted for their charge. Four of 

the five groups suggested revising the NSP mission statement, as follows:

● Promote seabirds as integral components of healthy and resilient ocean ecosystems through 

research, monitoring, and mitigation of fishery interactions, and by raising awareness of NOAA 

Fisheries seabird-related activities and strengthening partnerships. (Strategic Initiative 1 Working 

Group);

● Work with partners to promote seabirds as integral components of healthy and resilient ocean 

ecosystems. Raise awareness of NOAA Fisheries seabird-related activities and responsibilities. 

(Strategic Initiative 2 Working Group);

● Promote and maintain seabirds as integral components of healthy and resilient marine 

ecosystems through science-based management and collaboration with partners. (Strategic 

Initiative 3 Working Group); and

● Maintain seabirds as integral components of healthy and resilient ocean ecosystems by 

conducting research on seabird biology and ecology, mitigating threats to seabirds and their 

environment, incorporating seabirds into ecosystem-based management, and raising awareness 

of NOAA Fisheries seabird-related activities and responsibilities (Strategic Initiative 4 Working 

Group).

All five working groups significantly advanced development of goals and milestones associated with 

their strategic initiatives. These were compiled and presented during the final hour of the meeting as 

the basis for further development of NSP’s five-year strategic plan.

Summaries of Working Group Discussions

The following are the results of each working group’s discussion, which built upon the initial draft of the 

strategic plan and will be expanded as part of the process for completing NSP’s five-year strategic plan. 

Timelines associated with milestone are as follows: short term = up to 6 months; medium term = 6 

months to 1 year; long term = 1 year to life of strategic plan.

Strategic Initiative 1: Monitor and Estimate Seabird Bycatch

Fisheries bycatch is a threat to seabird populations worldwide. Monitoring fisheries bycatch and 

estimating its magnitude is a critical part of effective conservation and management. In particular, such 

monitoring allows for identification of emerging issues and challenges pertaining to fisheries 

interactions with seabirds. Critical pieces of monitoring include strong fisheries observer programs that 

include effective training, data standardization, and data management (i.e., documentation, quality 

assurance and quality control, and archiving). State-of-the-art analytical methods also are critical to 
6

estimating bycatch. The NSP also recognizes the need to ensure consistency in monitoring and 

estimation, to the extent practicable, across regions for particular fishery types.

Goal 1: Engage with NOAA Fisheries observer programs to explore the standardization of data collection 

protocols and format, and ensure that seabird data are collected and effectively documented, 

communicated (internally and externally), integrated, quality checked, and archived

● Milestone: Conduct a review of the level and quality of seabird bycatch data collection, including 

how mortality is determined for live releases.

o Timeline: short term

o POC: NSP Coordinator with National Observer Program Advisory Team (NOPAT), Lee Benaka, 

and Jason Jannot

● Milestone: Convene a workshop (in-person or virtual) to discuss the results of the aforementioned 

review and identify minimum standards (including forms and standardized protocols) for seabird 

bycatch data collection.

o Timeline: short term

o POC: NSP Coordinator with NOPAT, Lee Benaka, Jason Jannot

● Milestone: Create a protocol for reporting bird tag data appropriately.

o Timeline: short term

o POC: NSP Coordinator with NOPAT, Lee Benaka, Joan Browder, and Jason Jannot

● Milestone: Establish a regular “virtual” series (annual or otherwise) of meetings via WebEx (or other 

video-conferencing software) of seabird data collection experts to discuss best practices and 

emerging issues related to seabird data collection.

o Timeline: ongoing

o POC: NSP Coordinator with NOPAT, Lee Benaka, and Jason Jannot

● Milestone: Work with observer programs to develop standardized protocols for collecting seabird 

data using electronic monitoring and other emerging technologies (e.g., electronic reporting, 

autonomous underwater vehicles).

o Timeline: ongoing

o POC: NSP Coordinator with NOPAT, Lee Benaka, Brett Alger, and Shannon Fitzgerald

● Milestone: Explore the development of data collection procedures (including tagging) to better 

capture seabird condition (e.g., reflex action mortality predictor analysis - RAMP) and nature of 

interaction (e.g., gear-specific) in order to inform post-release mortality data.

o Timeline: long term

o POC: NSP Coordinator with Office of Science and Technology (OST) - Mridula Srinivasan, Lee 

Benaka

● Milestone: Maintain current, and develop new, partnerships to maximize data collection from 

seabird bycatch carcasses, using the Pacific seabird necropsy program as a possible model.

o Timeline: long term/ongoing

o POC: NSP Coordinator with Shannon Fitzgerald
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Goal 2: Ensure observers have training and skills to collect high-quality seabird data, including 

identification of lowest taxa practicable, utilization of safe-handling practices, and effective assessment 

of condition

● Milestone: Create an online clearing house that compiles seabird-related training resources for 

various observer programs.

o Timeline: short term

o POC: NSP Coordinator with NOPAT, and Lee Benaka

● Milestone: Convene a seabird training workshop(s) for post-deployment debriefers and trainers.

o Timeline: mid term

o POC: NSP Coordinator with NOPAT, and Lee Benaka

● Milestone: Establish best practices (e.g., photography, measuring tools) for observer seabird training 

based on the outcome of the previous two Milestones.

o Timeline: long term

o POC: NSP Coordinator with NOPAT, and Lee Benaka

Goal 3: Continually revise and develop new analytical approaches to estimate seabird bycatch

● Milestone: Convene a webinar with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and other partners to 

determine how seabird population status is determined by the USFWS, and how bycatch estimates 

can best inform efforts to assess population status.

o Timeline: short term

o POC: NSP with leadership from NSP Coordinator

● Milestone: Convene a seabird bycatch estimation data workshop as part of, or in conjunction with, a 

Protected Species Assessment Workshop, to address topics including different types of unobserved 

seabird bycatch and bycatch in data-poor environments, discuss emerging issues related to seabird 

monitoring and analysis, and share approaches across regions.

o Timeline: mid term

o POC: NSP Coordinator with OST’s Protected Species Science Branch Chief, Mridula Srinivasan

● Milestone: Encourage analytical approaches that incorporate bycatch drivers (i.e., fishery 

characteristics, biological assemblages, and environmental parameters) to better understand 

impacts to seabirds and associated species.

o Timeline: ongoing

o POC: NSP Coordinator with OST’s Protected Species Science Branch Chief, Office of 

Protected Resources’ (OPR) Marine Mammal Stock Assessment Coordinator

Strategic Initiative 2: Mitigate Seabird Bycatch

Goal 1: Conduct and support research on mitigating seabird bycatch

● Milestone: Ensure that Bycatch Reduction Engineering Program (BREP) and similar funding 

opportunities explicitly mention seabirds, and focus on the most pressing bycatch concern for 

seabirds. Consider using Council research priorities to help in this effort. 
8

o Timeline: BREP has an annual cycle, so when the call for proposals is under development, 

provide comments each year on the priorities

o POC: NSP Coordinator with National Bycatch Coordinator/BREP, Office of Sustainable 

Fisheries (OSF)

● Milestone: Re-evaluate efficacy of mitigation methods through conducting a meta-analysis of 

published rates. (Published efficacy rates of individual methods may be dated, or apply only to 

individual projects/methods) – note the overlap with Strategic Initiative 1.

o Timeline and POC to be developed

● Milestone: Publish technical reports on the extent to which third wire systems are necessary for 

trawl vessels on the west coast and Alaska (and possibly other regions).

o Timeline: 1 year timeframe

o POC: NSP Coordinator with Shannon Fitzgerald - AFSC Coordinated Seabird Studies Group 

lead, and relevant USFWS staff

● Milestone: Ensure that there is research on mitigation methods to reduce trawl-related seabird 

bycatch. (Note: research is currently being conducted on the west coast hake fleet.)

o Timeline: 2-3 year timeframe

o POC: NSP Coordinator with the Seabird/Trawl Interaction Working Group: Shannon 

Fitzgerald, Tom Good, and Jason Jannot

● Milestone: Conduct research to identify reasons for the increasing black-footed albatross bycatch.

o Timeline: 1-2 year timeframe

o POC: NSP Coordinator with seabird POC for each region and center; Western Pacific 

Fisheries Management Council (WPFMC)

● Milestone: Evaluate new mitigation tools and technology. (Note - WPFMC held a workshop Sept 18-

19, 2018 to review existing measures such as blue-dyed bait vs side setting, etc., and alternative 

approaches.)

o Timeline: to be developed

o POC: to be developed

● Milestone: Develop and maintain expertise for vessel-based research on seabird bycatch mitigation.

o Timeline: to be developed

o POC: to be developed

Goal 2: Engage, where appropriate, with industry, Councils, and other management bodies (e.g., 

Commissions, Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs), State and Federal Agencies) on 

seabird mitigation measures, from research through implementation (note the overlap with Strategic 

Initiative 3)

● Milestone: Work with Councils to identify management priorities for seabird mitigation.

o Timeline: to be developed

o POC: to be developed

● Milestone: Share mitigation improvements with RFMOs through scientific working groups. (Note 

that this is already occurring through the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC).)

o Timeline: to be developed
9

o POC: to be developed

Goal 3: Conduct cooperative efforts with fishermen to encourage engagement with fisheries-based 

mitigation solutions

● Milestone: Develop vessel specific mitigation strategies (for vessels that are less effective at 

reducing bycatch).

o Timeline: 3 years

o POC: NSP Coordinator with AK Regional Office and seabird POC for each NOAA Fisheries 

science center

● Milestone: Educate fishermen in mitigation methods to ensure proper use of techniques.

o Timeline: to be developed

o POC: to be developed

● Milestone: Continue to develop outreach and education materials (e.g., safe handling and release of 

bycaught seabirds, current trends, regulations, seabird ID, and reporting).

o Timeline: to be developed

o POC: to be developed

● Milestone: Continue to ensure incidental take of seabirds in research and commercial fisheries is 

addressed through appropriate authorities and existing mechanisms.

o Timeline: to be developed

o POC: to be developed

● Milestone: Promote opportunities for collaborative seabird bycatch research, such as BREP or the 

Cooperative Research program, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF).

o Timeline: ongoing

o POC: NSP Coordinator, others to be developed

● Milestone: Update the U.S. National Plan of Action (NPOA) for Reducing the Incidental Catch of 

Seabirds in Longline Fisheries (pending approval from NOAA Fisheries’ leadership).

o Timeline: to be developed

o POC: NSP Coordinator with Office of International Affairs and Seafood Inspection, Mi Ae Kim

● Milestone: Ensure mitigation methods are being used appropriately. Once methods are part of 

regulation, ensure enforcement through cooperation with NOAA Fisheries Office of Law 

Enforcement (OLE), Coast Guard, others as necessary. (This may fit better in Strategic initiative 1 and 

3, as the idea came from having observers collect more and more consistent data on seabird 

mitigation measures that are being used (i.e. not just checking a box that streamer lines are being 

used, but are they meeting performance standards, etc.) Crossover between enforcement and data 

collection.)

o Timeline: to be developed

o POC: to be developed

Strategic Initiative 3: Strengthen Key Partnerships

Goal 1: Strengthen partnerships with other federal agencies (e.g., USFWS, BOEM, USGS)
10

● Milestone: Renew the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between NOAA Fisheries and USFWS, 

per E.O. 13186 Responsibilities of Federal Agencies to Protect Migratory Birds (pending leadership 

approvals).

o Timeline: to be developed

o POC: NSP Coordinator

● Milestone: Establish regional USFWS POC for Endangered Species Act consultations.

o Timeline: short term

o POC: to be developed

● Milestone: Revisit/Establish (where necessary) regional USFWS POCs for National Environmental 

Policy Act (NEPA) assessments.

o Timeline: short term

o POC: NSP Coordinator with NOAA Office of General Counsel, Stacey Nathanson

● Milestone: Establish interagency seabird working group (NOAA Fisheries, USFWS, BOEM, USGS) to 

meet concurrently with annual meeting of the Pacific Seabird Group.

o Look to previous MOUs for bulleted points outlining how these partnerships can be of 

benefit to each agency

▪ Timeline: short term

▪ POCs: NSP Coordinator with Roberta Swift/Scott Johnston (USFWS), and David 

Pereksta (BOEM)

o Identify common needs/projects which can benefit from joint involvement (e.g., colony 

catalogues, seabird data groups)

▪ Timeline: annually with PSG meetings (perhaps with pre-meeting calls)

▪ POCs: NSP Coordinator with Dave Pereksta (BOEM), Liz Labunski/Scott 

Johnston/Roberta Swift (USFWS), and others to be identified

o Produce annual reports of activities & accomplishments to brief agency leadership

▪ Timeline: annually (post-PSG meetings?)

▪ POCs: TBD

Goal 2: Strengthen partnerships with regional fisheries management councils

● Milestone: Identify Council-specific POCs for seabird issues.

o Timeline: short term

o POC: NSP Coordinator to reach out to Council Executive Directors/Deputy Directors who can 

identify appropriate POCs

● Milestone: Provide a written annual national report, with an offer to provide a summary in person, 

to all eight fishery management councils (FMCs) containing: seabird bycatch summaries, emerging 

issues (e.g., anticipated changes or additions to regulations, identification of fisheries with high 

seabird bycatch); report should contain information specific to particular regions.

o Identify NOAA Fisheries POCs already working with FMCs on seabird issues

▪ Timeline: to be developed

▪ POC: NSP Coordinator with NOPAT and Bycatch Reduction Engineering Program (BREP), 

Lee Benaka, and Erin Wilkinson
11

o Contact Council-specific seabird POCs for input on desired/helpful report content and timing

▪ Timeline: to be developed

▪ POC: to be developed 

● Milestone: NSP request “MSA Research Priorities” (updates required every 5 years under the 

Magnuson-Stevens Act) document from each of the eight FMCs; NSP disseminate to regional seabird 

POCs.

o Timeline: annually

o POC: NSP Coordinator to request from NOAA Fisheries OST Director

● Milestone: Invite FMC representatives to NSP quarterly calls (as appropriate; annually if not more 

frequently).

o Timeline: to be developed

o POC: to be developed 

● Milestone: Share national-level issues at Council Coordination Committee meetings, which are 

attended by all of the chairs, vice chairs, and executive directors from each FMC .

o Timeline: meetings hosted by NOAA Fisheries are held in January or February of each year; 

meetings hosted by one of the Councils are in May or June

o POC: NSP Coordinator

Goal 3: Strengthen partnerships with Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs), 

multilateral agreements, and with other countries through bilateral relationships

● Milestone: Coordinate with U.S. delegations to RFMO meetings to advance seabird bycatch-related 

measures, such as increasing observer coverage of fisheries where seabirds have bycatch risk, 

improving collection of bycatch data, calling for analysis of bycatch data and implementation of 

mitigation measures, and enhancing mitigation measures where needed.

o Timeline: ongoing, according to RFMO meeting schedules

o POC: NSP Coordinator with International Affairs designate

● Milestone: Keep NSP updated on seabird bycatch and related activities within each of the RFMOs 

and in the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR).

o Timeline: ongoing, according to RFMO/CCAMLR meeting schedules

o POC: NSP Coordinator with International Affairs designate

● Milestone: Continue partnership with the Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels 

(ACAP) to advance exchange of information between NOAA Fisheries and other countries on seabird 

bycatch-related work and bring attention to/raise profile of the issue of seabird bycatch at RFMO 

meetings.

o Timeline: ongoing, according to RFMO/ACAP meeting schedules

o POC: NSP Coordinator with International Affairs designate

● Milestone: Suggest inclusion of seabirds on the agenda of bilateral fisheries policy dialogs, with 

Canada, Chile, Russia, Taiwan, others.

o Timeline: ongoing, according to bilateral meeting schedules

o POC: NSP Coordinator with International Affairs designate
12

● Milestone: Contribute to, and participate in, seabird conservation-related global workshops, 

international conferences, and other activities of this type when they involve seabird bycatch 

monitoring or mitigation.

o Timeline: ongoing

o POC: NSP Coordinator with International Affairs designate

Goal 4: Strengthen partnerships with other line offices within NOAA, Regional Fisheries Management 

Councils (RFMC), universities, and non-governmental organizations

● Milestones: To include Sanctuaries, National Ocean Service (NOS, POC Grace Bottittia), universities, 

SeaGrant, etc. Other potential partners include American Bird Conservancy, National Fish and 

Wildlife Foundation, Tribes. Consider identifying many key partners initially, and subsequently 

narrowing the scope to those that are strategic and able to leverage implementation of other 

activities of the strategic plan.

o Timeline: ongoing

o POC: to be developed

Goal 5: Clarify MSA’s sections 316 (b) and (c) as they pertain to seabirds (cross-cutting with Strategic 

Initiatives 1 and 2)

● Milestones: to be developed.

o Timeline: ongoing

o POC: NSP Coordinator with NOAA Fisheries Office of General Council, and Stacey Nathanson

Strategic Initiative 4: Promote Seabirds in Advancing Ecosystem-Based Fisheries Management (EBFM)

With the NOAA Fisheries mission in mind, this initiative provided an overview of Ecosystem Based 

Fisheries Management/Ecosystem Based Management (EBFM/EBM) and provided clarity on how 

considering seabirds is important to that effort. Summaries of successfully incorporating seabird 

information into EBFM/EBM activities were provided. Discussions were held on the critical nature of 

seabird data and how NOAA Fisheries can play a role in collecting it and making it more accessible 

through internal processes or coordination with outside, sometimes global, database efforts.

The question often arises within NOAA Fisheries “Why Seabirds?” With our mission of ocean 

stewardship, the response is multi-faceted. Among other issues, we need to understand prey 

requirements of seabirds in large marine ecosystems; we need to understand the importance of direct 

and indirect top-down effects of seabirds and target fisheries; we need to make better use of seabirds as 

tools for sea-samplers and indirect indicators; and seabird “hotspots” must be accounted for in marine 

spatial planning.

Important datasets for seabirds include recurring at-sea surveys for abundance, distribution trends, and 

foraging hotspots, as well as colony monitoring, beached bird surveys, bycatch data, and necropsy data 

collected from bycaught birds (demographics, diet, ocean plastics ingestion, body condition). Many of 
13

these datasets already exist and can be further developed to provide crucial long-term ecological 

context for implementing EBM/EBFM. 

However, seabirds will not be used in EBFM/EBM until we are able to develop methodologies and 

strategic partnerships that will allow seabird data to be incorporated into management processes. With 

that in mind, the following goals and milestones were developed. 

Goal 1: Foster better understanding of regional EBFM and RFMC processes by NSP members, in order to 

facilitate inclusion of seabirds in those processes

● Milestone: Regional NSP members identify (or self-identify) a seabird expert or someone familiar 

with regional seabird/science data to pursue other milestones in this initiative.

o Timeline: short term

o POC: to be developed

● Milestone: Establish contact (e.g., meeting) between Regional EBFM POC for regional science center, 

regional office, RFMC staff contact respectively (Table 1) and seabird data experts/NSP members.

o Timeline: short term

o POC: to be developed 

● Milestone: Document RFMC staff or committee members that have seabird expertise. This will serve 

as a gap analysis and allow explorations of possible connections between seabird data and seabirdfriendly RFMC members.

o Timeline: short term

o POC: to be developed 

Goal 2: Improve understanding of the connections between existing seabird data and how they can be 

used to better inform/be meaningful to EBFM/EBM

● Milestone: Document where, how, when seabird data have been used in EBFM/EBM (this will likely 

be a living google spreadsheet).

o Timeline: medium term

o POC: to be developed 

o Bonus: turn this activity into a publication (medium term)

● Milestone: Establish communication between seabird data experts and ecosystem modelers/stock 

assessment scientists.

o Timeline: medium term

o POC: to be developed

● Milestone: Establish communication between Ecosystem Status Report leads and seabird 

experts/NSP members.

o Timeline: medium term

o POC: to be developed

Goal 3: Encourage seabird research that advances EBFM/EBM
14

● Milestone: Encourage analysis of seabird data that can advance EBFM/EBM (i.e., applied seabird 

research). This includes new indicators, Management Strategy Evaluation, and risk analysis. 

o Timeline: ongoing – medium to long term

o POC: to be developed

● Milestone: Encourage the continued collection of seabird monitoring and data collection internal 

and external to NOAA.

o Timeline: ongoing – medium to long term

o POC: to be developed

EBFM POCs:

NOAA Fisheries 

SF Chair Karen Abrams

S&T Vice Chair Kenric Osgood

OHC Kara Meckley

OPR Kristy Long

NEFSC Sean Lucey

SEFSC Mandy Karnauskas

SWFSC Toby Garfield

NWFSC Chris Harvey

AFSC Kerim Aydin

PIFSC Beth Lumsden

GARFO Mike Pentony (SFD)

SERO Bill Arnold (SFD)

WCRO Yvonne deReynier (SFD)

AKRO Brandee Gerke

PIRO Michelle McGregor (SFD)

HMS Carrie Soltanoff

Regional Fishery Management Councils

Gulf of Mexico Morgan Kilgour

Mid-Atlantic Brandon Muffley

New England Chris Kellog

South Atlantic Roger Pugliese

Pacific Kit Dahl

North Pacific Diana Evans

Western Pacific Marlowe Sabater

Caribbean TBD
15

Strategic Initiative 5: Elevate Awareness of and Support for the National Seabird Program

Goal 1: Continue to produce National Seabird Program (NSP) Annual Report; this report highlights NSP 

accomplishments

● Milestones: 1) Solicit Accomplishments from NSP members (every December); 2) prepare draft 

report for NSP member review (mid-January); 3) finalize report and submit to S&T for approval to 

distribute (due first week of February); 4) print glossy reports to have available for science centers 

and seabird meetings.

o Timeline: annual

o POC: NSP Coordinator

Goal 2: Prepare presentation detailing NSP 2018 Meeting at next Pacific Seabird Group Annual Meeting 

● Milestones: prepare abstract, obtain approval by co-authors, submit to Pacific Seabird, prepare 

poster/oral presentation, attend and present.

o Timeline: short term

o POC: NSP Coordinator with interested NSP members

Goal 3: Present NSP research and management projects at annual Pacific Seabird Group meetings

● Milestones: 1) when providing seed-funding of NSP projects with NOP funds, identify project(s) that 

would be ideal to present at following Pacific Seabird Group Meeting (February-March); 2) when 

Annual Pacific Seabird Group Meeting is announced, remind projects that they are expected to 

submit abstract and present their project (July); 3) National Seabird Program presents at Pacific 

Seabird Group Annual Meeting (February following year).

o Timeline: medium term

o POC: NSP Coordinator

Goal 4: Present NSP emerging issues at NOAA Science and Brown Bag Seminars

● Milestones (timeline): 1) Evaluate NSP member quarterly presentations on seabird emerging issues 

NSP Meetings and seed-funded NSP projects using NOP funds for possible topics (Quarterly: Jan, 

Apr, Jul, & Oct); 2) request NSP members to present at NOAA seminar series as appropriate; 3) once 

scheduled, NSP Coordinator to announce to NSP team.

o Timeline: medium term

o POC: NSP Coordinator

Goal 5: Participate in World Migratory Bird Day and World Seabird Day to highlight NSP 

Accomplishments

● Milestones: 1) create World Seabird/Migratory Bird Day Steering Committee (early January); 2) 

Steering Committee to meet as needed to review NSP Annual Report for accomplishments to 
16

highlight and how best to present (recommend collaboration with NOAA National Marine 

Sanctuaries); 3) Steering Committee to present plans to NSP Coordinator for approval and then

finalize promotion plans (mid-April); 4) promote NSP Accomplishments on World Migratory Bird Day 

(second Saturday in May); 5) promote NSP Accomplishments on World Seabird Day (July 3rd).

o Timeline: medium term

o POC: NSP Coordinator

Goal 6: Produce NSP one-page handouts on NSP seabird conservation efforts for Fishery Management 

Council Meetings and seabird meetings 

● Milestones: 1) create NSP Steering Conservation Committee to oversee drafting of one page 

handouts (early January); 2) steering Committee to meet annually to determine if new seabird 

conservation handout should be printed (recommendation to create hake fishery 3rd wire research 

handout); 3) prepare draft handout for NSP Coordinator approval; 4) print glossy type handout for 

distribution at Fishery Management Council meetings and seabird meetings.

o Timeline: 2-3 year timeframe

o POC: NSP Steering Conservation Committee Lead (recommend Shannon Fitzgerald, Tom 

Good, Jason Jannot)

Goal 7: Produce Data Gap Analysis every five years to determine what is not being done that should be 

done with seabirds

● Milestones: 1) establish NSP Seabird Data Analysis Steering Committee to meet biweekly for six 

months to evaluate seabird data collection and emerging issues (February – July 2020); 2) NSP 

Seabird Data Analysis Steering Committee to draft while paper for NSP Coordinator and team review 

(September 2020); 3) finalization of data analysis report which should include assessment of project 

(October 2020).

o Timeline: long term

o POC: NSP Coordinator and NSP Seabird Data Analysis Steering Committee Lead

Goal 8: Provide periodic briefings to the NOAA Fisheries’ Assistant Administrator, Science and/or 

Regulatory Boards.

● Milestones: 1) briefings should be only when new/emerging issues or change in leadership occurs 

(evaluate annually); 2) if briefing should be undertaken, request time on agenda for presentation (as 

needed)

o Timeline: long term

o POC: NSP Coordinator

Goal 9: Include Seabirds in Science Center Activity Plans 

● Milestones (timeline): 1) determine Science Centers with Activity Plans (early 2019); 2) science 

center NSP team member to work with NSP Coordinator to request seabirds be included in Center’s 

Activity Plan; 3) revise annually as needed.

o Timeline: short to medium term
17

o POC: NSP Coordinator with NSP team member from each science center

Goal 10: Maintain NSP Website

● Milestones (timeline): update NSP website when changes occur and notify NSP team via email of 

changes (as needed).

o Timeline: ongoing

o POC: NSP Coordinator

Next Steps

The Steering Committee for the 2018 NOAA Fisheries’ National Seabird Program Meeting, along with the 

broader NSP, will use results from this meeting to further develop its five-year strategic plan. The plan 

will follow calendar years, beginning in 2020 and ending in 2024. Our goal is to have the plan formalized, 

approved, and published as a NOAA Technical Memorandum by mid- to late 2019. 

Acknowledgements

We gratefully acknowledge NOAA Fisheries’ Office of Science and Technology’s National Observer 

Program for providing funding to support this meeting. We also acknowledge the many NOAA Fisheries 

regional and headquarters offices and science centers for their support of staff time and travel. Special 

thanks to the USFWS, the Western and North Pacific Fishery Management Councils, BOEM, and the 

National Ocean Service for supporting time and travel for staff to attend this meeting with a goal of 

strengthening partnerships. Finally, sincere thanks to Jenny McDaniel, Ravi Shiwmangal, and Gabriel 

Arce for flawless logistical support to make this meeting accessible remotely and productive for all.

Literature Cited

Rivera K. S., L. T. Ballance, L. Benaka, E. R. Breuer, S. G. Brooke, S. M. Fitzgerald, P. L. Hoffman, N. 

LeBoeuf, and G.T. Waring. 2014. Report of the National Marine Fisheries Service’s National Seabird 

Workshop: Building a National Plan to Improve the State of Knowledge and Reduce Commercial 

Fisheries Impacts on Seabirds. September 9–11, 2009, Alaska Fisheries Science Center, Seattle, WA. U.S. 

Dept. of Commer., NOAA. NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-F/SPO-139, 78 p.
18

Appendix 1. Attendees of the 2018 Meeting of NOAA Fisheries’ National Seabird Program.

Name Affiliation Email address

Lisa Ballance Southwest Fisheries Science Center Lisa.Ballance@noaaa.gov

Lee Benaka Office of Science and Technology Lee.Benaka@noaa.gov

Colby Brady Pacific Islands Regional Office Colby.Brady@noaa.gov

Joan Browder Southeast Fisheries Science Center Joan.Browder@noaa.gov

Therese Conant Office of Protected Resources Therese.Conant@noaa.gov

Yvonne DeReynier West Coast Regional Office Yvonnie.DeReynier@noaa.gov

Anne Marie Eich Alaska Regional Office AnneMarie.Eich@noaa.gov

Sarah Ellgen Pacific Islands Regional Office Sarah.Ellgen@noaa.gov

Shannon Fitzgerald Alaska Fisheries Science Center Shannon.Fitzgerald@noaa.gov

Tom Good Northwest Fisheries Science Center Tom.Good@noaa.gov

Annette Henry Southwest Fisheries Science Center Annette.Henry@noaa.gov

Jefferson Hinke Southwest Fisheries Science Center Jefferson.Hinke@noaa.gov

Asuka Ishizaki Western Pacific Fishery Management 

Council Asuka.Ishizaki@wpcouncil.org

Jason Jannot Northwest Fisheries Science Center Jason.Jannot@noaa.gov

Scott Johnston US Fish and Wildlife Service Scott_Johnston@fws.gov

Trevor Joyce Southwest Fisheries Science Center Trevor.Joyce@noaa.gov

Keeley Kent West Coast Regional Office Keeley.Kent@noaa.gov

Mi Ae Kim Office of International Affairs and 

Seafood Inspection Mi.Ae.Kim@noaa.gov

Laura Koehn Office of Protected Resources Laura.Koehn@noaa.gov

Lesley Kordella US Fish and Wildlife Service – National 

Office Lesley_Kordella@fws.gov

Elizabeth Labunski US Fish and Wildlife Service Elizabeth_Labunski@fws.gov

Jennifer Lee Southeast Regional Office Jennifer.Lee@noaa.gov

Steve MacLean North Pacific Fishery Management 

Council Steve.Maclean@noaa.gov

Summer Martin Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center Summer.Martin@noaa.gov

Stacey Nathanson NOAA Office of the General Counsel Stacey.Nathanson@noaa.gov

Noelle Olsen Office of Science and Technology Noelle.Olsen@noaa.gov

Dave Pereksta Bureau of Ocean Energy Management David.Pereksta@boem.gov

John Peschon Pacific Islands Regional Office John.Peschon@noaa.gov

Robert Pitman Southwest Fisheries Science Center Robert.Pitman@Noaa.gov

Kevin Powers National Marine Sanctuaries KDPowers24@gmail.com

Jennifer Roberts Alaska Regional Office Jennifer.Roberts@noaa.gov

Joshua Rudolph Pacific Islands Regional Office Joshua.Rudolph@noaa.gov
19

Tammy Russell Scripps Institution of Oceanography TMRussell@ucsd.edu

Ryan Shama Northwest Fisheries Science Center Ryan.Shama@noaa.gov

Jeff Shenot Office of Habitat Conservation Jeff.Shenot@noaa.gov

Gina Shield Northeast Fisheries Science Center Gina.Shield@noaa.gov

Ryan Silva Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office Ryan.Silva@noaa.gov

Mridula Srinivasan Office of Science and Technology Mridula.Srinivasan@noaa.gov

Rob Suryan Alaska Fisheries Science Center Rob.Suryan@noaa.gov

Roberta Swift US Fish and Wildlife Service Roberta_Swift@fws.gov

Laura Todd US Fish and Wildlife Service Laura_Todd@fws.gov

Rachael Wadsworth West Coast Regional Office Rachael.Wadsworth@noaa.gov

Harvey Walsh Northeast Fisheries Science Center Harvey.Walsh@noaa.gov

Erin Wilkinson Office of Sustainable Fisheries Erin.Wilkinson@noaa.gov

Stephani Zador Alaska Fisheries Science Center Stephani.Zador@noaa.gov

Jen Zamon Northwest Fisheries Science Center Jen.Zamon@noaa.gov

Front row: Jeff Shenot, Harvey Walsh, Therese Conant, Jen Zamon, Stephani Zador, Erin Wilkinson, Liz Labunski, Asuka Ishizaki, 

Mridula Srinivasan, Mi Ae Kim, Tammy Russell. Middle row: Dave Pereksta, Scott Johnston, Jason Jannot, Tom Good, Jennifer 

Lee, Noelle Olsen, Lee Benaka, Kevin Powers, Robert Pitman, Rachael Wadsworth, Jenny McDaniel. Back Row: Lisa Ballance 

(NSP Coordinator), Ryan Silva, Laura Todd, Annette Henry, Roberta Swift, Steve MacLean, Rob Suryan, Shannon Fitzgerald, 

Summer Martin, and Trevor Joyce.
20

Appendix 2. Draft Strategic Plan presented at the 2018 Meeting of NOAA Fisheries’ National Seabird 

Program.

National Seabird Program Five-Year Strategic 

Plan: 2019-2023

I. Background, History of the NSP, Areas of Focus & Accomplishments, 2009 Workshop, 2018 

Meeting 

II. NSP’s Strategic Plan: 2019-2024

Strategic Initiative 1: Monitor and Estimate Seabird Bycatch

Background

Fisheries bycatch is a threat to seabird populations. Monitoring fisheries bycatch and estimating its 

magnitude is a critical part of effective conservation and management. In particular, such monitoring 

allows for identification of emerging issues/problems/challenges pertaining to fisheries interactions with 

seabirds. Critical pieces of monitoring include strong fisheries observer programs that include effective 

training, data standardization, and data management (documentation, QA/QC, archiving). Critical to 

estimating bycatch are state of the art analytical methods; consistency across regions for a particular 

fishery are also key.

Suggested Goals (each to include Description, Milestones/Timeline, Points of Contact); to be further 

developed during the meeting:

Continue to ensure high-quality seabird identification training for observers and enhance observer 

training where necessary

Engage with NOAA Fisheries’ observer program coordinators to standardize data collection protocols 

and format, and to ensure that data are effectively documented, quality checked, and archived

Convene a data-sharing workshop focused on seabird bycatch data

Continually revise/develop new analytical approaches to estimate seabird bycatch, including 

unobserved seabird bycatch and bycatch in data-poor situations; share approaches across regions

Continue to support and enhance (where possible) the Pacific seabird bycatch necropsy program, and to 

create similar programs in other regions
21

Formalize a process to stay abreast of emerging issues – Milestones to achieve this may include Ensure 

continued engagement with the National Observer Program Advisory Team, Bycatch Reduction 

Engineering Program, and other similar groups, both within and external to NOAA Fisheries.

Strategic Initiative 2: Mitigate Bycatch

Background

Suggested Goals (each to include Description, Milestones/Timeline, Points of Contact); to be further 

developed during the meeting:

Conduct/Support research on mitigation methods (create fisheries-specific goals for trawls, pelagic 

longlines, and demersal longlines?) - e.g., ensure that BREP and similar funding opportunities explicitly 

mention seabirds, use/support new technologies

Continue to develop outreach materials for safe handling and release of bycaught seabirds

Conduct cooperative efforts with fishermen to encourage engagement with fisheries-based mitigation 

solutions - mention BREP here and maybe Cooperative Research

Update the U.S. National Plan of Action for Reducing the Incidental Catch of Seabirds in Longline 

Fisheries - placeholder pending approval from NOAA Fisheries’ leadership

Strategic Initiative 3: Strengthen Key Partnerships

Background

To include partnerships within and external to the agency, so as to build on (not duplicate) effort and 

maximize impact

Goal i: Strengthen collaboration and coordination with USFWS

Description, Milestones/Timeline, Points of Contact

Milestones to consider:

● Renewal of MOU between NOAA Fisheries and USFWS per EO 13186 (pending approval of NOAA 

Fisheries leadership) – key persons include Stacey Nathanson, Lesley Kordella

● Maintain partnership with USFWS regarding ESA consultation for fisheries effects on seabirds for 

sharing USFWS seabird stock assessments and status information

Goal ii: Strengthen collaboration and coordination with Bureau of Ocean Energy Management

Description, Milestones/Timeline, Points of Contact to be further developed during the meeting
22

Goal iii: Strengthen collaboration and coordination with Regional Fisheries Management Organizations, 

and parties to bi- and multi-lateral agreements

Description, Milestones/Timeline, Points of Contact

Milestones to consider:

● Coordinate with U.S. delegations to RFMO meetings to advance seabird bycatch-related 

measures, such as increasing observer coverage of fisheries where seabirds have bycatch risk, 

improving collection of bycatch data, calling for analysis of bycatch data and implementation of 

mitigation measures, and enhancing mitigation measures where needed

● Keep NSP updated on seabird bycatch and related activities within each of the RFMOs and 

CCAMLR

● Continue partnership with ACAP to advance exchange of information between NOAA Fisheries 

and other countries on seabird bycatch-related work and bring attention to/raise profile of the 

issue of seabird bycatch at RFMO meetings

● Suggest inclusion of seabirds on the agenda of bilateral fisheries policy dialogs, with Canada, 

Chile, Russia, Taiwan, others

● Contribute to and participate in seabird conservation-related global workshops, international 

conferences, and other activities of this type when they involve seabird bycatch monitoring or 

mitigation

Goal iv: Strengthen collaboration and coordination with Fishery Management Councils

Description, Milestones/Timeline, Points of Contact to be further developed during the meeting

Goal v: Strengthen collaboration and coordination with National Ocean Service

Description, Milestones/Timeline, Points of Contact to be further developed during the meeting

Goal vi: Strengthen collaboration and coordination with NGO, Universities, SeaGrant, and other seabirdfocused groups

Description, Milestones/Timeline, Points of Contact to be further developed during the meeting

Strategic Initiative 4: Promote Seabirds in Advancing Ecosystem-Based Fisheries Management 

and Ecosystem-Based Management

Background

To include an overview of EBFM; clarity on how considering seabirds is important to EBFM; summaries of 

existing successes with using seabirds in an EBFM context/for EBFM/Fisheries Management Plans; the 
23

critical nature of seabird data and how NOAA Fisheries can play a role in collecting it and making it more 

accessible through internal processes and/or coordinating with existing global databases

Suggested Goals (each to include Description, Milestones/Timeline, Points of Contact); to be further 

developed during the meeting:

One or more goals should focus on next steps/how we advance this/what do we need/what are the gaps 

that prevent advancements/how can successes be applied to other areas

Standardize at-sea data collection protocols; & software; QA/QC, documentation, and archiving; 

regional or central repository

Create list of (or increase awareness of and access to) NOAA surveys & non-NOAA platforms of 

opportunity for at-sea seabird surveys, prioritize, and develop cost estimates for staffing 

Develop metadata document of existing NOAA Fisheries seabird data (e.g., what data do we have, what 

space and time extents, where and in what form are they stored)

Develop strategic plan for consolidating and standardizing at-sea data to include consideration of 

existing centralized databases such as the North Pacific Seabird Database, OBIS SEAMAP; discuss 

whether consolidation should be regional or national

Strategic Initiative 5: Elevate Awareness of and Support for the National Seabird Program

Background

Suggested Goals (each to include Description, Milestones/Timeline, Points of Contact); to be further 

developed during the meeting:

Continue to produce National Seabird Program annual reports

Provide annual (periodic?) briefings to the AA, Science and Regulatory Boards

Continue to provide Program updates via presentations to NOAA Fisheries working groups and external 

scientific and management meetings

Maintain website
24

Appendix 3. Agenda for the 2018 Meeting of NOAA Fisheries’ National Seabird Program.

WEDNESDAY, 30 MAY 2018 – PACIFIC ROOM

8:20, 8:30, 8:40 Shuttle Pick-Up (Hotel La Jolla)

8:30 Coffee, Mingle

9:00 Welcome, NOAA Fisheries’ National Seabird Program, 

Meeting Goals, Introductions

Lisa T. Ballance

9:30 Five-Year Strategic Plan for NOAA Fisheries’ National 

Seabird Program: Setting the Stage

Lisa T. Ballance

10:00 Strategic Initiative 1 - Monitor and Estimate Seabird 

Bycatch

● NOAA Fisheries’ National Observer Program & 

National Bycatch Report

Lee Benaka

● Quantifying unobserved seabird bycatch Tom Good

● Estimating seabird bycatch in data-poor situations Joan Browder 

(via WebEx)

10:45 Break

11:00 Strategic Initiative 2 – Mitigate Seabird Bycatch

● NOAA Fisheries’ Bycatch Reduction Engineering 

Program

Erin Wilkinson

● National Plan of Action for Reducing Incidental Catch 

of Seabirds in Longline Fisheries

Mi Ae Kim

● The M-Opinion Lesley Kordella 

(via WebEx)

● Mitigating Seabird Cable Strikes Jason Jannot

● Safe Handling and Release of Hooked/Entangled 

Seabirds

Sarah Ellgen

● Streamer Line Distribution Anne Marie Eich 

(via WebEx)

● Lessons Learned from Short-tailed Albatross 

Recovery Efforts

Rob Suryan

12:45 Lunch
25

13:15 Strategic Initiative 3 – Strengthen Key Partnerships

● USFWS - West Coast Roberta Swift

● USFWS - East Coast Scott Johnston

● USFWS - Alaska Liz Labunski

● USFWS - Coordination with Ecological Services & 

Listed Species -

Laura Todd

● Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Dave Pereksta

● Regional Fisheries Management Organizations, 

Bilateral Fisheries Dialogs, and Global Fora

Mi Ae Kim

● North Pacific Fishery Management Council Steve MacLean

● Western Pacific Fishery Management Council Asuka Ishizaki

● NOAA’s National Ocean Service – Marine Sanctuaries Kevin Powers

● NGOs, Universities, SeaGrant Shannon 

Fitzgerald

15:45 Break

16:00 Strategic Initiative 4 – Promote Seabirds in Advancing 

Ecosystem-Based Fisheries Management 

● EBFM 101 Toby Garfield

● Seabirds as Indicators for Ecosystem-based Fisheries 

Management in the North Pacific

Stephani Zador

● Seabirds as Indicators for Ecosystem-based Fisheries 

Management in the Southern Ocean

Jefferson Hinke

● Seabird distribution and relative abundance in the 

central and eastern Pacific based on at-sea surveys, 

1988-2017

Trevor Joyce

17:00 Strategic Initiative 5 – Elevate Awareness of and Support 

for the National Seabird Program

● Overview of Tools to Elevate Awareness and Support Lisa T. Ballance

Happy Hour (18:00) & Dinner (19:00) – Martin Johnson House, Scripps Institution of 

Oceanography
26

As Needed Shuttle Drop-Off (Hotel La Jolla)

THURSDAY, 31 MAY 2018 

8:20, 8:30, 8:40 Shuttle Pick-Up (Hotel La Jolla)

8:30 Coffee, Mingle – Pacific Room

9:00 Assignment to Working Groups Lisa T. Ballance

9:15 Working Groups

Strategic Initiative 1 – Monitor and Estimate Seabird 

Bycatch – Sardine Room 

Lee Benaka, Jason Jannot, & Noelle Olsen (co-leads)

Strategic Initiative 2 – Mitigate Seabird Bycatch – Adelie 

Room 

Sarah Ellgen, Shannon Fitzgerald (AM only), Rob Suryan, 

Erin Wilkinson (co-leads)

Strategic Initiative 3 – Strengthen Key Partnerships –

Pacific Room 

Lisa T. Ballance & Mi Ae Kim (co-leads)

Strategic Initiative 4 – Promote Seabirds in Advancing 

Ecosystem-Based Fisheries Management and EcosystemBased Management – Stenella Room 

Tom Good, Jefferson Hinke, Stephani Zador (co-leads)

12:00 Lunch

13:00 Working Groups Resume

Strategic Initiative 1 – Monitor and Estimate Seabird 

Bycatch – Sardine Room 

Lee Benaka, Jason Jannot, & Noelle Olsen (co-leads)
27

Strategic Initiative 2 – Mitigate Seabird Bycatch – Adelie 

Room

Sarah Ellgen, Rob Suryan, Erin Wilkinson (co-leads)

Strategic Initiative 3 – Strengthen Key Partnerships –

Pacific Room

Lisa T. Ballance & Mi Ae Kim (co-leads)

Strategic Initiative 4 – Promote Seabirds in Advancing 

Ecosystem-Based Fisheries Management and EcosystemBased Management – Stenella Room

Tom Good, Jefferson Hinke, Stephani Zador (co-leads)

Strategic Initiative 5 – Elevate Awareness of and Support 

for the National Seabird Program – Albacore Room

Shannon Fitzgerald & Annette Henry (co-leads)

16:00 Reconvene – Pacific Room; Reports by Strategic 

Initiative; Next Steps

Lisa T. Ballance

17:00 Adjourn

As Needed Shuttle Drop-Off (Hotel La Jolla)

FRIDAY, 1 JUNE 2018 (STEERING COMMITTEE ONLY)

8:30 Regroup, Writing Assignments, Adjourn
28

Appendix 4. Abstracts of talks presented at the 2018 Meeting of NOAA Fisheries’ National Seabird 

Program.

Strategic Initiative 1: Monitor and Estimate Seabird Bycatch

NOAA Fisheries’ National Observer Program & National Bycatch Report

Benaka, L.

Office of Science & Technology, NOAA Fisheries, Silver Spring, MD; Lee.Benaka@noaa.gov

NOAA Fisheries deploys fisheries observers on commercial fishing vessels. Fisheries observers are field 

biologists who collect fishing effort and biological data and samples from targeted fish species, 

discarded fish, and protected species interactions. Some fisheries observers also monitor vessel activity 

for compliance with fishing regulations. NOAA Fisheries administers observer programs in six different 

regions of the United States, with national coordination provided by the National Observer Program in 

Silver Spring, Maryland. Regional observer programs are responsible for sampling protocols and fishery 

coverage levels, safety training, observer deployment and debriefing, and data management and 

analysis. In 2016, NOAA Fisheries deployed 891 observers in 53 fisheries for a total of 73,743 sea days. 

From 2004 to 2018, the National Observer Program has spent an average of $139,000/year to fund 

National Seabird Program Projects, including:

● Seabird identification training for observers

● Seabird necropsy studies

● Enhanced monitoring of seabird interactions in the Northeast and Southeast United States

● Seabird distribution research in the Central Tropical Pacific and California Current

● Support of free streamer line distribution to Alaska fishermen

● Bycatch mitigation in the Pacific Coast groundfish fishery

NOAA Fisheries uses observer data, and other data sources, to publish fish bycatch and protected 

species interaction estimates through a variety of reports, including a series of U.S. National Bycatch 

Reports that began in 2011. The National Bycatch Reports compile bycatch estimates for fish and sea 

turtles, as well as interaction and take estimates for marine mammals and seabirds, for major U.S. 

fisheries. The most recent National Bycatch Reports have included a short national summary, regional 

summaries, and updated species-specific and fishery bycatch estimates for dozens of fisheries and 

hundreds of species. The next National Bycatch Report update, which will include bycatch estimates for 

2014 and 2015, should publish in late 2018.

Quantifying unobserved seabird bycatch in the at-sea hake catcher-processor fishery

Thomas P. Good, Jason Jannot, Vanessa Tuttle

Northwest Fisheries Science Center, Conservation Biology Division, tom.good@noaa.gov

Seabird mortalities caused by striking trawl warps or the data transponder cable (a.k.a. 3rd wire) have 

been recorded in at-sea hake fleets in both Alaska and the Southern Hemisphere. However, 

documenting the extent of the cable-strike issue in this fishery is a challenge, as overall duties of 

fisheries observers make their observations of seabird cable strikes extremely rare. Carcasses from these 

interactions are also rarely documented, as injured or dead birds may move or float away from the 

vessel, and they rarely end up in the net or on a cable and recorded. Thus, despite 100% observer 

coverage, interactions between seabirds and trawl cables, and any resultant bycatch, are likely 

underestimated for at-sea hake catcher-processor vessels. In 2016 and 2017, in an effort to inform 

bycatch estimation and potential mitigation strategies, observers quantified seabird-cable interactions 

on at-sea hake catcher-processor vessels during 15-minute sessions on randomly selected daytime 
29

hauls. Over 952 observation sessions, they recorded 346 strikes, 81 of which were “hard" strikes having 

the potential to cause mortality. For black-footed albatross, the fleet-wide expansion for hard strikes 

was estimated to be 495 (61 – 994 95% CL), which, using a 12% mortality rate, may have resulted in 59 

mortalities (8 – 118 95% CL). By contrast, fisheries observers documented only two mortalities in this 

fleet during the two-year study, highlighting the mismatch between observed and potential mortality. 

Follow-up studies will systematically quantify seabird cable strikes, attempt fate assessment after 

seabird-cable interactions, and examine factors that may be influencing cable-strike probabilities (e.g., 

bird density, offal plume presence, wind speed and direction, vessel activity, etc.). Results will also 

parameterize model-based estimation of cable strike mortality, which will inform annual bycatch 

estimation as well as collaborative work with industry to mitigate seabird bycatch resulting from cable 

strikes in this fishery.

Evolution of methodology to estimate seabird bycatch in the US Atlantic pelagic longline fleet

Zhou, C.1, Li, Y. 1, Jiao1, Y., Browder, J2

1Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA; yjiao@vt.edu

2Southeast Fisheries Science Center, NOAA Fisheries, Miami, FL; joan.browder@noaa.gov

Since 2010, seabird bycatch statistics for the US pelagic longline fishery (PLL) in the Western North 

Atlantic (WNA) have been prepared at Virginia Tech under the direction of Dr. Yan Jiao as part of the 

Seabird Bycatch Project of the Southeast Fisheries Science Center. Specific analytical approaches and 

statistical model constructs have evolved over time to address the characteristics of the WNA PLL 

observer program (POP) seabird bycatch database, which, combined with effort, contains many zeros, 

positive records with many ones, and a high proportion of seabird records unidentified to species. 

Starting from the traditional delta lognormal model, the following innovations have been introduced: 1) 

replacement of fixed-year-effect with random-year-effect in a transition to mixed-effect models; 2) 

development of hurdle models in which excess ones are represented with a k-aggregated zerotruncated Conway-Maxwell-Poisson distribution; and (3) Bayesian group-specific multi-species bycatch 

estimation based on species grouped by common physical and behavioral characteristics and informed 

by seabird composition data from a US Geological Survey (USGS) compendium of at-sea surveys. 

Random-year-effect models are more statistically efficient than fixed-year-effect models. Both 

simulation studies and analysis of real data indicated that random effect models increased model 

goodness of fit and reduced prediction uncertainty, as indicated by lower Akaike’s Information Criterion 

(AIC) and mean-square-error. Fitting a k-aggregated hurdle model to positive data with a high 

proportion of singletons reduced model bias and improved estimation accuracy, which was proved 

through both the WNA seabird bycatch data and a set of simulation studies. Bayesian models of species 

grouped by commonalities of characteristics such as size and feeding behavior enabled predictions for 

individual species or groups of species. The model construction provided a framework to accomplish 

objectives of developing capability to estimate fleet bycatch by species and predicting bycatch of rare 

species foraging in the PLL fleet footprint but seldom observed and never observed in bycatch. 

Strategic Initiative 2: Mitigate Seabird Bycatch

NOAA Fisheries’ Bycatch Reduction Engineering Program 

Wilkinson, Erin

Office of Sustainable Fisheries, NOAA Fisheries, Silver Spring, MD; Erin.Wilkinson@noaa.gov

The Bycatch Reduction Engineering Program (BREP) is a grant program that supports the development 

of technological solutions and changes in fishing practices designed to minimize bycatch. Our mission is 
30

to find creative approaches and strategies for reducing bycatch, seabird interactions, and post-release 

mortality in federally managed fisheries. Each year, we receive approximately $2.5 million to support 

external research projects. The program is run out of the Office of Sustainable Fisheries and we have 

representatives from each Region, Center and Headquarters office on our technical committee. As BREP 

is an external grant program, there is a completive process where interested individuals or organizations 

apply for funding through the annual federal funding opportunity. BREP has had four priorities for the 

past few years including: developing innovative and effective technologies, improving understanding 

and reduction of post-release mortality, developing techniques to reduce interactions between fishing 

gear and corals, sponges and other structure- forming invertebrate, and supporting international 

bycatch reduction projects. Projects looking at seabird bycatch currently fit within our innovative and 

effective technologies priority. While BREP does not receive a large number of applications focused on 

seabird bycatch reduction research, the program has funded seabird projects in the past, including one 

in 2017. 

U.S. National Plan of Action for Reducing the Incidental Catch of Seabirds in Longline Fisheries 

Kim, Mi Ae

Office of International Affairs and Seafood Inspection, NOAA Fisheries, Silver Spring, MD; 

mi.ae.kim@noaa.gov

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Committee on Fisheries adopted the 

International Plan of Action for Reducing Incidental Catch of Seabirds in Longline Fisheries (IPOASeabirds) at its 1999 meeting. The IPOA is a voluntary instrument that calls on countries to assess the 

degree of seabird bycatch in their longline fisheries and, in those fisheries where a seabird bycatch 

problem exists, to develop National Plans of Action (NPOA) to reduce the bycatch. The United States 

fulfilled this call by issuing the U.S. National Plan of Action for Reducing the Incidental Catch of Seabirds 

in Longline Fisheries (NPOA-Seabirds) in 2001. NPOA-Seabirds, developed collaboratively by NOAA 

Fisheries, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Department of State, provides national-level policy 

guidance on reducing seabird bycatch. The guidance has NOAA Fisheries, in cooperation with FWS, 

conduct an assessment of all U.S. longline fisheries to determine whether a seabird bycatch problem 

exists and, working through the regional fishery management council process, to develop and 

implement seabird bycatch mitigation measures in fisheries that have a bycatch problem. NPOASeabirds also calls for continuing with international collaboration on seabird bycatch issues. Since 

issuance of the U.S. NPOA-Seabirds, much progress has been made with respect to seabird bycatch. 

Some of the progress is summarized in the 2014 report of NPOA-Seabirds implementation, such as 

regulations to mitigate seabird bycatch in Alaskan, Western Pacific, and West Coast fisheries, adoption 

of binding conservation and management measures for seabird bycatch by regional fisheries 

management organizations, and multiple outreach and educational tools for fishermen about seabird 

bycatch. In addition, FAO published in 2009 best practice technical guidelines to reduce incidental catch 

of seabirds in fisheries, because few NPOAs had been adopted and the content and quality of existing 

NPOAs varied widely. The guidelines are designed to assist States in assessing the need for or drafting a 

new NPOA-Seabirds or reviewing their current NPOA-Seabirds and assist Regional Fisheries 

Management Organizations (RFMOs) in developing regional action plans. If efforts are undertaken to 

update the U.S. NPOA-Seabirds, these guidelines should be considered.
31

Summary and Update of M-Opinion 37050 published by the U.S. Department of Interior

Kordella, L.

Division of Migratory Birds, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Falls Church, VA; Lesley_Kordella@fws.gov

The publication of M-Opinion 37050 by the U.S. Department of Interior on December 22, 2017, raised 

many questions from federal agencies, including NOAA Fisheries, regarding the implementation of the 

Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA). The new interpretation of the MBTA requires changes to policy and 

practice across U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) programs. This Service first provided guidance to 

Service staff to clarify what constitutes intentional take, what actions that must be taken when 

conducting intentional take (e.g., obtain a permit via 50 C.F.R. Part 21), and what changes to prior 

practice should be made in light of the M-Opinion. The M-Opinion concludes that the take of birds 

resulting from an activity is not prohibited by the MBTA when the underlying purpose of that activity is 

not to take birds. The Service interprets the M-Opinion to mean that the MBTA’s prohibitions on take 

apply when the intent of an action is to take migratory birds, their eggs, or their nests, and it results in 

the take of such birds, eggs or nests. Conversely, the Service interprets that the take of birds, eggs or 

nests occurring as the result of an activity, the intent of which is not to take birds, eggs or nests, is not 

prohibited by the MBTA. The Service will work closely with NOAA Fisheries to examine and update the 

current Memorandum of Understanding developed under Executive Order 13186 for relevant or 

necessary changes regarding seabird bycatch and best management practices in order to meet 

conservation needs for seabird species.

U.S. West Coast and Alaska Trawl Fisheries Seabird Cable Strike Mitigation Workshop

Jason Jannot1, Anne Marie Eich2, Shannon Fitzgerald3, Tom Good1, Vanessa Tuttle1

1Northwest Fisheries Science Center, NOAA Fisheries, Seattle, WA; Jason.Jannot@noaa.gov

2Alaska Regional Office, NOAA Fisheries, Juneau, AK; AnneMarie.Eich@noaa.gov

3Alaska Fisheries Science Center, NOAA Fisheries, Seattle, WA; Shannon.Fitzgerald@noaa.gov

The U.S. West Coast and Alaska Trawl Fisheries Seabird Cable Strike Mitigation Workshop was held on 

7–8 November 2017 at the NOAA Fisheries West Coast Region in Seattle, Washington. The workshop 

was hosted by staff from NOAA’s Northwest Fisheries Science Center, Alaska Fisheries Center, and the 

Alaska Regional Office. Thirty-nine workshop attendees from Alaska, Washington, and Oregon, 

representing the U.S. West Coast and Alaskan groundfish trawl fishing industry, seafood associations, 

non-governmental organizations, and federal agencies participated in the 1.5-day workshop. The 

workshop included presentations from subject-matter experts on the scope and scale of the seabird 

cable strikes, as well as mitigation strategies utilized in global fisheries. Breakout groups discussed 

mitigation strategies and designs to reduce seabird cable strikes, prioritized mitigation strategies, and 

discussed potential challenges to implementation as well as next steps for the priority mitigation 

measures. Workshop participants agreed to test five mitigation measures: 

1. Snatch block

2. Water deterrents 

3. Improved visibility cables 

4. Streamer lines and warp booms

5. Third wire float device

Many other methods were discussed but were determined to either be unfeasible or are already being 

employed. The participants agreed that current research should continue and be refined. Participants 

should partner to improve data collection, and begin testing and development of mitigation strategies. 

Dedicated seabird observers are needed to increase the quality of the data. Participants agreed to be 

proactive and stay engaged in this long-term, deliberative, collaborative process. Fishing companies 
32

pledged to engage their fleets. Early reports from 2018 fishing season in Alaska indicate that some 

vessels have voluntarily adopted measures from the workshop. A NOAA Technical Memorandum of the 

workshop process and outcomes, including links to documents and other resources, has been published 

and made available to workshop participants and the public.

Safe Handling and Release of Hooked/Entangled Seabirds

Ellgen, S.

Sustainable Fisheries Division, Pacific Islands Regional Office; NOAA Fisheries, Sarah.Ellgen@noaa.gov

The Hawaii deep-set longline tuna fishery and the Hawaii shallow-set longline swordfish fishery interact 

primarily with Laysan albatross and black-footed albatross in the North Pacific. These species are large 

birds with a large wingspan that can make handling and hook removal challenging. Federal regulations 

governing the Hawaii longline fisheries require seabird avoidance and defined handling and release 

techniques. These requirements, implemented in the early 2000s, have greatly reduced seabird bycatch 

in both fisheries. Ms. Ellgen presented two outreach materials developed by the Pacific Island Regional 

Office (PIRO) with the support of the National Seabird Program. The illustrated instructional guide and 

eight-minute video include best practices and regulatory requirements for fishermen when retrieving, 

handling, de-hooking, and releasing seabirds, including endangered short-tailed albatrosses. 

https://www.st.nmfs.noaa.gov/Assets/nationalseabirdprogram/PIRO.SeabirdHandlingGuidelines.pdf. 

Please contact PIRO for more information about these resources.

Streamer Line Distribution

Eich, A.M. 

Alaska Regional Office, Sustainable Fisheries Division, NOAA Fisheries, Juneau, Alaska; 

AnneMarie.Eich@noaa.gov

Seabirds are attracted to longline vessels discarding offal. Seabirds are most vulnerable to gear 

interactions during gear deployment when they actively attempt to eat bait from hooks at the surface. 

To minimize bycatch in waters off Alaska, longline vessels use seabird avoidance measures, most 

commonly in the form of streamer lines (also known as tori lines or bird scaring lines). Streamer lines 

dramatically reduced seabird bycatch when they were introduced starting in 2002, as a result of a 

collaborative process whereby Washington Sea Grant led field studies supported by NOAA, U.S. Fish and 

Wildlife Service, and fishing industry associations. Since 2004, seabird avoidance measures have been 

required for operators of vessels > 26 ft length overall using longline gear fishing for Individual Fishing 

Quota (IFQ) halibut, Community Development Quota halibut, or IFQ sablefish in the exclusive economic 

zone (EEZ) off Alaska or State of Alaska waters (0 to 200 nm combined); or groundfish in the EEZ off 

Alaska (3 to 200 nm). Outreach to the fleet reiterating the importance of streamer lines in reducing 

seabird bycatch is important. Through two National Seabird Program grants (2016 and 2018), the Alaska 

Region has been able to purchase and provide for free a limited number of streamer lines to federal 

fishermen. The streamer lines are available at many NOAA Fisheries Office of Law Enforcement offices 

throughout Alaska. 

Lessons learned from short-tailed albatross recovery efforts

Suryan, R.M.

Alaska Fisheries Science Center, Auke Bay Laboratories, NOAA Fisheries, Juneau, AK; 

rob.suryan@noaa.gov

The U.S. has been actively involved in Short-tailed Albatross (Phoebastria albatrus; STAL) conservation 

for the past 20 years following bycatch mortalities of STAL in Alaskan longline fisheries. Conservation 
33

efforts have been multifaceted and their success attributed to partnerships among key individuals 

within agencies, industries, and institutions. International collaborations have also been key given that 

STAL nest in Japan, but forage in marine waters of Pacific Rim countries. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife 

Service, which has management authority over STAL, the National Marine Fisheries Service who has 

management authority over fisheries, and the North Pacific Longline Association were actively engaged 

in finding collaborative solutions from the beginning. Furthermore, targeted research supported 

informed management decisions. Conservation efforts for STAL have highlighted many important 

lessons, including: 1) the value of informed adaptive management strategies; 2) fishery and region 

specific solutions; 3) strong support from industry and the public; 4) collection and analysis of fisheries 

observer data; 5) sustained outreach and two-way communication with industry stakeholders. Examples 

of adaptive management strategies include relaxation of deterrent regulations in areas where research 

and industry feedback indicated albatross-fishery interactions were extremely low or non-existent. 

Fishery specific solutions were required when a small modification of fishing gear for local conditions 

reduced the effectiveness of seabird bycatch deterrents. Analysis of 23 years of fishery observer data in 

Alaska demonstrated remarkable success of seabird deterrents in reducing seabird bycatch, but also a 

concerning trend of increasing albatross bycatch over the past decade. Thanks to collaborative 

international conservation efforts, STAL are anticipated to reach two of the four endangered species 

delisting criteria by 2019. Although the STAL population is still < 1% of its historical size, the continued 

population increase and favorable indications of breeding range expansion are strong indicators that 

this species is on the road to recovery. 

Locations of 99 adult/subadult vs. juvenile short-tailed 

albatrosses tracked between 2002-2014. Suryan et al. 

2006, 2007, 2008, Suryan & Fischer 2010, Deguchi et al. 

2014, Suryan & Kuletz 2018, Orben et al. 2018.
34

Strategic Initiative 3: Strengthen Key Partnerships

Past partnerships and future collaborations between USFWS and NOAA Fisheries

Swift, R.

Region 1 Office of Migratory Birds and Habitat, USFWS, Portland, OR; Roberta_swift@fws.gov

Roberta Swift is the Seabird Coordinator for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Office of Migratory Birds 

which includes Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Hawaii and the U.S. Tropical Pacific. She provided an 

overview of the structure of USFWS and their partnership with NOAA fisheries. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife 

Service (USFWS) is divided into eight regions, and at this meeting three staff from Migratory Birds 

represented Alaska, the West Coast Regions, and the East Coast Regions. She specifically described the 

mission of her division, the Office of Migratory Birds, which focuses on conservation and management 

of non-listed bird species, through both regulatory and non-regulatory pathways. The Office of 

Migratory Birds has worked with NOAA on a variety of issues including Memorandum of Understanding 

(MOU) development, Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels (ACAP), and the 

National Plan of Action (NPOA), as well as technical support on a number of other projects and issues. 

USFWS divisions, their focus, priorities and missions were reviewed. The structure of the USFWS at 

different levels dictates communication pathways, within and without the agency, and should be 

considered. Each Division generally communicates directly to outside agencies rather than through a 

common point of contact. For instance, refuges along the West Coast and the U.S. Tropical Pacific 

traditionally have communicated directly with NOAA on projects and issues related to Marine National 

Sanctuaries and Marine National Monuments. Projects currently being conducted cooperatively 

between USFWS divisions such as the Albatross Demography Project will provide data to advise NOAA 

on fisheries and seabird management issues. A new program, which will be a useful conduit between 

NOAA and the USFWS for seabird monitoring programs and data is the USFWS Pacific Seabird Inventory 

& Monitoring Program (PSP). Ideas for future collaboration include working together to make at-sea 

seabird data accessible for project planning and assessments, potentially through the USFWS 

Information, Planning, and Consultation System (IPAC) system. 

Eastern Seabird Topics

Johnston, S.

Division of Migratory Birds, USFWS; Scott_Johnston@fws.gov

No abstract.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Region 7- Alaska Migratory Bird Management Seabird Program

Labunski, E., K. Kuletz, and R. Kaler

USFWS R7, Migratory Bird Management, Anchorage AK; Elizabeth_Labunski@fws.gov

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Region 7 Migratory Bird Management Seabird Program (MBM) focuses 

on conservation topics that impact seabirds in the state of Alaska. We work on seabird issues pertaining 

to habitat conservation, abundance and distribution, and threats to seabird population. These issues 

include: seabird bycatch, oil spills, subsistence harvest, coastal/offshore development, seabird mortality 

events, and emerging changes in the Arctic. Seabird colony monitoring is accomplished in collaboration 

with the Alaska Maritime Refuge to study seabird productivity, nesting chronology and diets at 10-15 

major colony sites on a rotating 1-3 year basis across the state. In addition, we have an ongoing at-sea 

monitoring program that conducts seabird surveys in coastal and offshore waters in Alaska. MBM has 

been conducting bi-annual coastal seabird surveys in Prince William Sound since 1989 to monitor the 

recovery of seabird species impacted by the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill, along with occasional coastal surveys 
35

in Kachemak Bay. Annual offshore seabird surveys are conducted to provide information on seabird 

distribution, abundance, and marine habitat in the Gulf of Alaska, Bering Sea and Chukchi Sea. Since the 

start of the offshore monitoring program in 2006 we have conducted over 130,000 km of surveys across 

Alaska. Surveys are funded via a grant, and interagency agreement with the North Pacific Research 

board and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Development. These surveys are accomplished by partnering 

with ongoing multidisciplinary large vessel based research projects headed by National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration, National Science Foundation, Woods Hole Institute, University of Alaska 

Fairbanks, and other institutions. Data gathered during these studies provides information that is used 

to examine current and long-term changes in seabird distribution and community composition in the 

north Pacific and helps supports informed management decisions in Alaska. 

Seabird Coordination at FWS, Ecological Services

Todd, Laura L.

Newport Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Newport, OR; Laura_todd@fws.gov

The Ecological Services Division of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) is responsible for 

administering the Endangered Species Act (ESA) for species under FWS jurisdiction, including completion 

of consultation under section 7(a)(2). Although NOAA Fisheries has similar responsibilities for marine 

species, they consult with USFWS for species that may be affected by their activities. The short-tailed 

albatross (Phoebastria albatrus) has become more common on the U.S. West Coast, and after an 

individual was killed in the sablefish fishery in 2011 off the Oregon Coast, consultation has been 

completed for many of the permitted fishing activities and research activities conducted by NOAA 

Fisheries. NOAA Fisheries and USFWS have worked collaboratively to establish procedures for estimating 

take and engaging stakeholders in the consultation process. Two biological opinions, one tiered opinion, 

and two informal consultations have been completed in the last three years, establishing some 

conservation measures to minimize take of seabirds. The solid working relationship between USFWS and 

NOAA Fisheries has been instrumental in completing timely consultation, developing sound 

conservation actions based on science, and fostering collaborative efforts to address seabird bycatch 

with the commercial fishing industry.

BOEM’s Data Needs to Assess Potential Effects of Offshore Energy Development on Seabirds

Pereksta, D.M.

Pacific Region, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Camarillo, CA david.pereksta@boem.gov

The mission of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is to manage development of the 

United States’ offshore energy and mineral resources in an environmentally and economically 

responsible way. In addition to regulating offshore oil and gas production in federal waters, BOEM has 

discretionary authority to issue leases, easements, or rights-of-way for renewable energy activities, 

including wind, wave, and ocean current on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). These authorities require 

assessments of the potential environmental impacts to resources on the OCS. BOEM conducts studies 

and research through its Environmental Studies Program (ESP). Through the ESP, BOEM collects 

environmental information to provide the scientific basis for evaluating potential impacts to the 

environment from regulated activities. These studies are designed to provide an improved 

understanding of the ecosystem, a baseline for assessing cumulative effects, and the scientific basis for 

developing regulatory measures to mitigate adverse impacts. With broad-scale assessment of suitable 

areas for energy production offshore, the challenge has been to collect and compile information quickly 

and at as large a scale as possible. Assessing what we know, what we can predict, and how we can 

assess risk has led BOEM to develop and collaborate on a variety of studies, including baseline data 
36

assessments, at-sea surveys, tracking studies of seabirds and shorebirds, predictive modeling of seabird 

distribution and abundance, vulnerability and risk assessments, and technology testing for efficient ways 

to inventory birds on the OCS. Collaborations with NOAA have included support of Marine Assessment 

Program for Protected Species (MAPPS) projects in several regions, marine biogeographic assessments, 

and data synthesis and predictive modeling projects. The results are being applied on the OCS to provide 

for assessments of potential effects and data needs at regional and local scales with the goal of 

designing and implementing projects that will minimize effects to avian species to the greatest extent 

practicable. 

Regional Fisheries Management Organizations, Bilateral Fisheries Dialogs, and Global Fora

Kim, Mi Ae

Office of International Affairs and Seafood Inspection, NOAA Fisheries, Silver Spring, MD; 

mi.ae.kim@noaa.gov

NOAA Fisheries engages in international partnerships to promote sustainable management of 

ecosystems and populations of seabirds and other marine living resources that the United States shares 

with other nations. Several offices within NOAA Fisheries work internationally, in coordination with 

other agencies and stakeholders, on a range of activities, such as direct capacity building and training, 

bilateral engagements with our counterparts in other countries, and multilateral negotiations in regional 

fisheries management organizations and global fora like the United Nations. The United States is party 

to several regional fisheries management organizations (RFMOs). In those fora, NOAA Fisheries works 

within the U.S. delegation to advance measures that serve to manage seabird bycatch, such as seeking 

to obtain quality data from observers, higher levels of observer coverage, effective evaluation of 

compliance with binding measures, and mitigation of seabird bycatch. Through bilateral relationships 

with counterparts in other countries, a wide range of issues are discussed one-on-one, providing an 

opportunity for collaboration and building alliances. In global fora, NOAA Fisheries in coordination with 

other agencies promotes practices to manage seabird bycatch. For example, at the Food and Agriculture 

Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the United States contributed to the development of 

International Plan of Action for Reducing Incidental Catch of Seabirds in Longline Fisheries and the 2009 

best practice technical guidelines related to NPOA-Seabirds development. The United States has been 

participating as an observer and as invited experts in the meetings of the Agreement on the 

Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels (ACAP) since the agreement went into effect, contributing to 

ACAP’s objective through the habitat improvement work done on U.S. breeding sites of albatrosses and 

petrels and through the seabird bycatch monitoring and mitigation work, as well as direct involvement 

in the work program of ACAP.

North Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council

MacLean, S.A.

North Pacific Fishery Management Council; steve.maclean@noaa.gov 

No abstract.

Management of Seabird Fishery Interactions by the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management 

Council

Ishizaki, A.

Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council, Honolulu, HI; asuka.ishizaki@wpcouncil.org 

The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council (WPRFMC), in working with the Hawaii 

longline industry and NOAA Fisheries, led the development and implementation of seabird mitigation 
37

measures in the Western Pacific region in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Fishery interactions with 

Black-footed Albatross (Phoebastria nigripes) and Laysan Albatross (Phoebastria immutabilis) were 

significantly reduced as a result of these efforts. Since 2015, WPRFMC has used the annual Stock 

Assessment and Fishery Evaluation (SAFE) report review process to monitor the status of seabirds and 

other protected species interactions and to identify data, assessment and management needs to inform 

the Council’s fishery management process under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 

Management Act (MSA). WPRFMC convened a workshop in November 2017 to improve the 

understanding of environmental and operational factors influencing interaction patterns and 

population-level impacts of higher interactions observed in the Hawaii longline fishery since 2015. The 

workshop findings indicated that 1) the increase in interactions may be driven by environmental factors 

such as wind and Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO), and 2) higher level of interactions are likely to have 

imperceptible difference on Black-footed Albatross population growth, unless the increase applies to all 

North Pacific longline fisheries. The workshop identified additional data gaps and research needs. 

Existing mechanisms and processes through MSA and the Fishery Management Councils provide an 

effective platform for addressing seabird bycatch issues, identifying research and assessment priorities 

and engaging industry. For example, WPRFMC sets management and research priorities through a 

number of planning and priority documents including its Program Plan, MSA 5-year Research Priorities, 

and Cooperative Research Priorities. These documents include priorities for addressing seabird 

interactions in fisheries managed under the Fishery Ecosystem Plans. WPRFMC’s seabird priorities for 

the next five years include 1) addressing data, research and assessment needs identified through the 

annual SAFE report recommendations; 2) improving understanding of ecosystem factors driving seabird 

interaction rates and patterns; 3) convening a workshop to review seabird mitigation requirements in 

the Hawaii longline fishery (Sept 18-19, 2018); 4) testing alternative mitigation measures; and 5)

streamlining handling guidelines and requirements for various protected species. 

Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary Report: Great shearwaters (Ardenna gravis) -

Movements, habitat use and human interactions

Wiley, D. 1 and K. Powers2

1 NOAA, NOS, Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, 175 Edward Foster Road, Scituate, MA; 

david.wiley@noaa.gov

2 3 Cobblestone, Plymouth, MA; kdpowers24@gmail.com

Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary (SBNMS) is located off the coast of Massachusetts between 

Boston and Cape Cod. SBNMS is part of our National Marine Sanctuary system (ONMS) within the 

National Ocean Service (NOS) part of the US Dept. of Commerce. We have been studying great 

shearwaters since 2013 using platform terminal transmitter (PTT) tags along with other data collected 

when the birds are handled. These shearwaters are the most abundant seabird in the Gulf of Maine 

during summer and fall months and are mostly nonbreeding birds. The study is collaborative and 

involves several academic, government and non-government groups that together are producing results 

that document the movements and habitats used by these shearwaters while in the Gulf of Maine. Two 

principal scientific papers have been published to date. Great shearwaters also constitute the largest 

seabird bycatch by commercial marine fisheries in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic US. They are caught 

primarily while gillnetting for spiny dogfish (Squalus acanthias) in an area most frequently used by the 

birds east of Chatham on Cape Cod. We are making collaborative efforts with the fishermen to reduce 

their bycatch.
38

Leveraging limited resources: coordination and collaboration with NGO’s, Universities, and Sea Grant

Fitzgerald, S.M.

Alaska Fisheries Science Center, NOAA Fisheries, Seattle WA; Shannon.Fitzgerald@noaa.gov

The North Pacific Observer Program implemented seabird bycatch monitoring to groundfish observer 

duties in 1993. Alaska groundfish seabird bycatch monitoring tasks were developed based on earlier 

work completed in North Pacific drift gillnet fisheries in close collaboration with the U.S. Fish and 

Wildlife Service (USFWS). Program success over the past 25 years depended on continued work with the 

FWS and a variety of partners. To make the best use of limited staff and funding, and to maximize the 

management, scientific, and conservation value we get from the fisheries monitoring program, the AFSC 

depends on a suite of partners, collaborators, and contracted vendors. Observers of course are the key 

to this successful program. The University of Washington Coastal Observation and Seabird Survey Team 

currently provides excellent observer training for seabird responsibilities and tasks. Oikonos Ecosystem 

Knowledge acts as a vendor to complete necropsies of seabirds returned by observers. Supported by 

National Seabird Program and other leveraged funds, this program also provides support for the marine 

bird food habit program and together address several of the high priority tasks noted in the USFWS’s 

Albatross Conservation Action Plan. A primary partner of the AFSC and Alaska Regional Office has been 

the Washington Sea Grant program which employed the collaborative method with industry and others 

to develop effective mitigation measures for the Alaska demersal groundfish fleet and other ongoing 

studies. Most work is reported through and/or approved by the North Pacific Fisheries Management 

Council. The takeaways from our experience are: (1) there is limited funding for seabird work, (2) offices 

can leverage funds by building on projects with additional support, (3) projects can leverage one 

another, (4) learning the federal small acquisitions rules is very important, and (5) the “Collaborative 

Method” has a very specific meaning (sometimes foreign to the federal work environment). 

Strategic Initiative 4: Promote Seabird in Advancing Ecosystem-Based Fisheries Management

Ecosystem-based Fisheries Management, Integrated Ecosystem Assessments and Ocean Conditions

Garfield, T.

Southwest Fisheries Science Center, NOAA Fisheries, La Jolla, CA; toby.garfield@noaa.gov

No abstract.

Seabirds as indicators for ecosystem-based fisheries management in the North Pacific

Zador, Stephani

Resource Ecology and Fisheries Management Division, Alaska Fisheries Science Center, NOAA Fisheries, 

Seattle, WA; stephani.zador@noaa.gov

The North Pacific Fisheries Management Council manages federal fisheries off Alaska, setting quotas 

annually for large and economically valuable fisheries in the eastern Bering Sea, Gulf of Alaska, and 

Aleutian Islands ecosystem. NOAA provides scientific advice to the council to support the ecosystembased fisheries management (EBFM). There are a variety of ways EBFM is practiced, such as by using 

climate-informed ecosystem models, optimum yield caps, protected species catch limits, and gear 

modifications. Ecosystem status reports (ESRs) are used to set ecosystem context for management 

decisions. The ESRs include ecosystem indicator-based ecosystem assessments, are targeted for 

fisheries managers, and linked with the annual stock assessment process. The ecosystem indicators 

represent a broad cross-section of the ecosystems, from oceanography to upper trophic organisms and 

fishing and human dimensions. Several seabird-based indicators are included in the ESRs, including 
39

those based on seabird productivity, phenology, diets, bycatch, and mortality events. Groundfish stock 

assessments serve as the basis for quota discussions, but the seabird and other ecosystem indicators 

provide contextual information that is not included in the stock assessment models. One example of the 

impact of this contextual information on quota-setting is provided. In this case, the impact of the marine 

heatwave in the Gulf of Alaska during 2014-2016 supported the stock assessment finding that the Pacific 

cod stock had dropped 80%. Importantly, the information from the ESR provided explanation and 

mechanisms for the Pacific cod decline, which facilitated the acceptance of a radically-lowered quota. 

Seabird die-offs, poor productivity, and lack of forage fish in their diets were important components in 

the assessments of the ecosystem impacts of the heatwave.

Seabirds as indicators for ecosystem-based fisheries management in the Southern Ocean.

Hinke, J.

Southwest Fisheries Science Center, NOAA Fisheries, La Jolla, CA; Jefferson.Hinke@noaa.gov

The Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources specifies ecosystem 

considerations for the management of fisheries in the Southern Ocean. In particular, the objectives set 

out in the Convention seek the ‘maintenance of the ecological relationships between harvested, 

dependent and related populations’. Toward this objective, a voluntary ecosystem monitoring program 

was established to facilitate standardized data collection from disparate research programs on several 

seabird species. The monitoring program was initially targeted to provide advice for the management of 

the Antarctic krill fishery. The seabird species (4 penguins, 1 albatross, and 2 petrels) were selected 

given their dependence on Antarctic krill. The suite of parameters to be monitored, which includes chick 

production, foraging trip durations, chick growth, annual survival, and breeding population size, were 

selected based on their likely sensitivity to changes in the state of krill populations. The monitoring 

program was thus clear in its identification of which species to monitor, what data to collect, and why 

such data could be useful. However, while the intervening years have witnessed an impressive 

accumulation of data from seabird monitoring sites scattered around Antarctica, agreement on how to 

use the data to advise fisheries management has been elusive. More traction has been gained in the 

realm of spatial planning, where identification of foraging habitats, movement corridors, and areas of 

concurrent spatial overlap with fishery operations have informed risk-assessment frameworks to advise 

on spatial allocation of catches to reduce localized risk to krill-dependent predators. 

Seabird distribution, ecology, and relative abundance in the central and eastern Pacific based on atsea surveys, 1988-2017 

Joyce, T.W.1, R.L. Pitman1 and L.T. Ballance1,2

1 Southwest Fisheries Science Center, NOAA Fisheries, La Jolla, CA; trevor.joyce@noaa.gov

2 Scripps Institution of Oceanography, La Jolla, CA

This presentation provided an overview of ongoing research based on the NOAA Fisheries Southwest 

Fisheries Science Center’s at-sea surveys in the central and eastern Pacific between 1988-2017. This 

seabird strip transect dataset encompasses 170,230 sightings of 431,691 individual seabirds from over 

167 species and represents over 135,000 km2 and 3299 sea days of survey effort. This globally unique 

data resource provides a wealth of information on seabird distribution, ecology, and relative abundance 

that can be used to inform ecosystem based management (EBM) and ecosystem base fisheries 

management (EBFM). Broadly this dataset is currently being applied in a variety of ways to improve to 

our knowledge of seabird biology including: 1) mapping seabird distribution patterns, 2) developing 
40

estimates of seabird abundance and population trends, 3) informing species delineation and 

systematics, and 4) highlighting vulnerabilities to human stressors. Data on seabird distribution and 

abundance is also being used to better inform our understanding of marine ecosystems. Under the 

latter category projects include: 1) better understanding the climatic and oceanographic drivers of 

seabird-tuna-dolphin foraging aggregations, 2) developing fisheries-independent indices, and 3) 

evaluating ecosystem services. A potential future use of this dataset in EBM/EBFM might be the 

calculation of prey biomass requirements necessary to maintain breeding and non-breeding populations 

of seabirds in the California Current, which could potentially inform the management of forage fish and 

squid fisheries. 

Strategic Initiative 5: Elevate Awareness of and Support for the National Seabird Program

Overview of tools to elevate awareness and support

L.T. Ballance1,2

1 Southwest Fisheries Science Center, NOAA Fisheries, La Jolla, CA; lisa.ballance@noaa.gov

2 Scripps Institution of Oceanography, La Jolla, CA; lballance@ucsd.edu

NOAA Fisheries’ National Seabird Program (NSP) has used a number of tools in the past, and continues 

to do so in the present, to elevate awareness and support for the program. These tools fall into five 

general categories. (1) Annual NSP reports have been produced since 2016. These provide an overview 

of statutes and agency priorities guiding NSP activities, NSP collaborations and partnerships, and NSP 

overarching goals, as well as a detailed list of accomplishments associated with policy and management, 

research and fieldwork, presentations and meetings, publications, and outreach. (2) Briefings to NOAA 

Fisheries Leadership (e.g., the Assistant Administrator, the Science and Regulatory boards, the Protected 

Resources Board) are provided whenever opportunities arise, typically when a change in high-level 

leadership occurs, or when a significant meeting requires background information. (3) Presentations are 

given to NOAA Fisheries working groups which share goals and/or have overlapping activities with NSP. 

These include the Bycatch Reduction Engineering Program and the National Observer Program Advisory 

Team. (4) Presentations at professional scientific and management meetings on general activities 

pertaining to NSP or specific topics relevant to scientific themes or stakeholder interests have been 

effective communication and outreach tools. (5) The NSP maintains a website where general 

information, guiding documents, annual reports, abstracts from NSP-funded projects, and significant 

activities are posted. Future efforts to further awareness of and support for the NSP can build on these 

successes.
41

Appendix 5. Membership of the five Strategic Initiative Working Groups at the 2018 Meeting of NOAA 

Fisheries’ National Seabird Program.

1. Monitor and Estimate Seabird Bycatch

Lee Benaka (co-lead) Jennifer Lee

Noelle Olson (co-lead) Ryan Silva

Jason Jannot (co-lead) Summer Martin

Joan Browder (via phone)

2. Mitigate Bycatch

Sarah Ellgen (co-lead, via webinar) Anne Marie Eich (via phone)

Erin Wilkinson (co-lead) Roberta Swift

Rob Suryan (co-lead) Rachael Wadsworth

Asuka Ishizaki

3. Strengthen Key Partnerships

Lisa Ballance (co-lead) David Pereksta

Mi Ae Kim (co-lead) Jeff Shenot

Steve MacLean Asuka Ishizaki

Scott Johnston

Stacey Nathanson

Laura Todd

Therese Conant

4. Promote Seabirds in Advancing Ecosystem-Based Fisheries Management & EcosystemBased Management

Jefferson Hinke (co-lead) Robert Pitman

Tom Good (co-lead) Trevor Joyce

Stephani Zador (co-lead) Mridula Srinivasan

Jen Zamon Tammy Russell

Harvey Walsh Kevin Powers

Liz Labunski Laura Koehn

5. Elevate Awareness of and Support for the National Seabird Program

Annette Henry (co-lead)

Shannon Fitzgerald (co-lead)

Therese Conant (co-lead)