SUMMARY

Mortality in long line fisheries is a global threat to a number of bird species. In Malta, indications point to Cory’s Shearwater (Calonectris diomedea) and Yelkouan Shearwater (Puffinus yelkouan) as the main seabird by-catch species. This study was conducted as part of the EU LIFE Yelkouan Shearwater Project to assess the impact of the Maltese fishery on seabird populations. A questionnaire was designed to evaluate the awareness of the Maltese fishers about the project and to undertake a preliminary assessment of seabird by-catch by the fishers. A total of 146 fishers were interviewed. The fishing activity responsible for the highest seabird by-catch was found to be bottom long lining, with each fisher who uses this gear catching an average of 1.41 Calonectris diomedea annually with minimal catches of Puffinus yelkouan. As these results are based on questionnaires and not direct data, they need to be considered with caution. However it does suggest that the issue of by-catch could have a significant effect on mortality rates of shearwaters, particularly C. diomedea and this should be further investigated. RESUME La mortalité dans les pêcheries palangrières est une menace mondiale qui plane sur d