There were two variables that were collected that proved to be significant in determining whether or not seabirds were going to be entangled during any one gillnet set. The most important factor was which fishing area that the gillnet set was in, 7 or 7A.
Sets in area 7 had a much higher probability of entangling seabirds than did sets in area 7A. The only other significant factor that we measured was the total number of seabirds observed alive on the water within 10 meters of the net at the time the net was set.
For example if the net was set in area 7 and there were zero birds within 10 meters at the time of the set the probability of entangling zero birds was 94%. On the other hand if there were were more than 10 birds on the water at the time of the set the probability of entangling zero birds dropped to 58 %.
