Pelagic seabirds and trawl-fisheries in the southern Benguela Current region

Abstract

Counts of seablrds attending stern-trawlers in the southern Benguela Current region are analysed according to seasonal changes in species richness, Shannon-Wiener diversity index, mean abundance, and mean biomass at 540 observation stations. Patterns of occurrence of species in 4 foodtype and 6 feeding-method groups are identified. These patterns are compared with the composition of the avifauna predating large-scale, commercial mid-water and demersal trawl-fisheries in the Benguela region.