Globally, it is estimated that at least 160,000 seabirds are removed by longline fishing operations annually. Bycatch of pelagic seabird species in longline fisheries is recognized as one of the most important and pervasive sources of mortality, contributing to an increased risk of their extinction. Of 61 species of seabirds affected by longline fisheries, 26 are threatened with extinction, including 18 of the 22 species of albatrosses, and there is compelling evidence that longline mortality is a significant component in the declines of many of these species.