Summary of Incidental Mortality Associated with Fishing activities data collected during the 2024 season, and updated extrapolated IMAF and warp strikes.

This paper summarises data collected by Scheme of International Scientific Observation observers and vessels reporting incidental interactions between fishing vessels, seabirds and marine mammals during fishing activities undertaken during the 2024 season, and presents updated extrapolations of incidents based on a spatial and temporal aggregation of records in addition to per observed cruise. The per-cruise extrapolated total of 92 seabirds caught by longlines as of 5 September 2024 is lower than in 2023 (147) but higher than in 2022 (15). Two species of cetacean were recorded as incidental mortalities, and 6 elephant seals were recorded as incidental mortalities in longline fisheries.