|
|
|
|
|
|
Background: An estimated 100,000 seabirds breeding on sub-Antarctic islands die each year on longline hooks of Brazil, South Africa and South America. Two species of albatross face an extremely high risk of extinction, and fourteen other species of albatross are classified as endangered or vulnerable by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN, 2003). Seabird bycatch by longline vessels is a major conservation problem. Back in 2003, the New Zealand ling fishery was likely to pose a particular threat to the critically endangered Chatham Island Albatross and other seabirds which are extremely attracted to fishing vessels such as White Chinned Petrels
Project: As a result of an Australia/New Zealand research and industry partnership, I was sent for 8 weeks onboard New Zealand longliners to conduct experiments, which estimated the efficiency of mitigation measures preventing seabird bycatch in the ling fishery. I was very privileged to see what life is really like out on the high seas, that very few people apart from fisheries observers get to experience, and see for myself the extent of the environmental implications of such fisheries (fish and bird bycatch). The experiments returned satisfactory results on the safer longlines, which reduced the bycatch of White Chinned Petrels by 95% and Sooty Shearwaters by 65%.