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Interactions between seabirds and commercial fishing activities have been well documented but little information is available regarding the impacts of more traditional fishing practices on seabird populations. We interviewed fishermen, administered questionnaires, and made field-based observations to determine the extent to which artisanal fisheries interact with and affect seabirds in the fjords and channels of the Chonos archipelago in southern Chile. Our surveys indicated a positive perception of seabirds as useful indicators of marine productivity and in their role scavenging fish waste and discards associated with fishing operations. However, the surveys also revealed that fishermen routinely establish seasonal camps for collecting seabird eggs and adults for food or bait and introduce feral predators to seabird breeding colonies on islands. Understanding the traditional practices of fishermen is critical for the future of community-based conservation of the region´s marine resources and biodiversity.

Los fiordos y canales subantárticos de Chile presentan importantes áreas de alimentación y reproducción de aves marinas. Además, estos ambientes albergan una importante actividad de pesca de palangre artesanal de la merluza austral (Merluccius australis). Los estudios de asociaciones entre aves marinas y la actividad pesquera son fundamentales en la ecología y biología de la conservación de estas aves. Por esta razón, se investigó la composición y estructura del ensamble estacional de aves marinas relacionado con actividades de pesca de palangre artesanal de merluza austral en canales del Pacífico sudeste, Chile. El trabajo de campo fue llevado a cabo durante verano (Bahía Cook), invierno (Faro Félix) y primavera (Golfo Xaultegua) del año 2008. Diez especies fueron asociadas con actividades artesanales, las más comunes durante el año fueron el albatros de ceja negra Thalassarche melanophrys y el petrel gigante antártico Macronectes giganteus. La estructura estacional del ensamble presentó diferencias entre verano e invierno. En términos de abundancia, el albatros de ceja negra mostró la más alta contribución al ensamble en verano (87,5%). Durante invierno, la gaviota dominicana Larus dominicanus, presentó la más alta contribución (47,7%), mientras que el albatros de ceja negra disminuyó a 9,1%. El albatros de ceja negra fue la especie con mayor Índice de Importancia Relativa dentro del ensamble, pero también es una especie con estatus de conservación `en peligro', por lo tanto es necesario mantener un monitoreo constante sobre la interacción entre las aves marinas y la pesca del palangre artesanal en estos ambientes subantárticos. The fjords and channels of southern Chile represent breeding and feeding areas for sub-Antarctic seabird species. In addition, in these environments, an important artisanal austral hake Merluccius australis longline fishery operates. Studies on the relationship between seabirds and this activity are fundamental for the ecology and conservation biology of these birds. This study examined the composition and structure of the seasonal seabird assemblages attending the artisanal longline fishing activities in channels of the Southeast Pacific, Chile. Fieldwork was carried-out during summer (Cook Bay), winter (Felix Lighthouse), and spring (Gulf Xaultegua) of 2008. Ten species were associated with fishing activities. The most common seabird species observed during the year were the Black-browed albatross Thalassarche melanophrys and the Southern giant-petrel Macronectes giganteus. The seasonal structure of the assemblages presented differences between summer and winter. In terms of abundance, Black-browed albatrosses presented the highest contribution to the assemblage in summer (87.5%). During winter the Kelp gull Larus dominicanus showed the highest contribution (47.7%) while the Black-browed albatross abundance decreased to 9.1%. Black-browed albatross was the species with the highest index of relative importance within the assemblies, but is also a species with the conservation status `endangered'. Therefore, it is necessary to maintain constant monitoring of the interaction between seabirds and artisanal longline fishing activities of sub-Antarctic environments.