脆弱天堂 11

Far out at sea, a long-line fishing vessel is setting its line.

It's long-line vessels in particular

that have been held responsible for the decline of the albatross.

The fishermen pay out a line 30 miles long across the surface of the ocean

And every few metres, they attach a secondary line with a hook

Baited with a fish or squid.

Every night, this vessel casts over a thousand hooks

And it is just one of many long-liners plying the Pacific

Some with lines 100 miles long.

But this fisherman is well aware of the threat to the seabirds

And to prevent them from swallowing his hooks

He has adopted bird-friendly fishing methods.

It's why he sets his lines at night

When the albatross are sleeping.

And he deploys tori lines.

These simple streamers are remarkably effective

at scaring birds away from the hooks.

He also thaws out his bait before hooking it

So it sinks out of sight quickly.