Seabird identification cards for fishing vessels operating in the Indian Ocean

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These identification cards are intended to improve the reporting of interactions between vessels targeting species under the management mandate of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) and seabirds. The major seabird species groups that occur within the IOTC Area of Competence are described and details of the species most commonly interacting with the pelagic fisheries for tuna and tuna-like species are provided in a clear, easily navigable, pictoral identification guide. Key diagnostic features are illustrated alongside distribution maps indicating species occurrence.