LYRICS
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.