Continue fishing? Avoid killing seabirds

by Metiria Turei

Seaweek provides a chance to reflect on the precarious situation of sealife above the waves – our endangered seabirds. They still die in unacceptable numbers as fishing bycatch. In New Zealand waters, up to 10,000 albatross and petrels drown on tuna long lines each year.

An inspiring story from South Africa last week pointed to an amazing 85% reduction in albatross deaths from long line tuna fishing, following a groundbreaking accord between the fishing industry and conservation NGOs.

The story tells how a South African Albatross Task Force - a joint effort by the UK Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and Birdlife International set up in 2006 - placed specialist instructors on fishing boats to show fishermen how to prevent birds becoming entangled. The techniques include attaching brightly coloured streamers known as tori lines to the back of vessels, which flap in the wind and scare the birds away from the baited lines. Fishermen are also encouraged to set their lines at night, when bird activity is limited, and to find new ways to weigh the lines down more effectively so that bait sinks out of reach more quickly.

In New Zealand, regulations in place since February 2008 require that long line tuna boats employ two out of these three methods, relying largely on voluntary compliance. These followed some horrific slaughter stories. But in South Africa, fishing crews have an added incentive to comply because since last year the conditions for obtaining a fishing permit stipulate that no more than 25 birds may be caught as bycatch during trips.

The biggest difference however, seems to be the willingness of the South African fishing industry to work with marine conservation groups to reduce seabird deaths. One of the Taskforce organisers, Meidad Goren, said: “Fishermen now understand that in order to continue fishing they must avoid killing seabirds, and are very cooperative.”

This contrasts sharply with the situation here, where the Seafood Industry Council has taken a combative, or at best highly selective, approach to NGO and Government attempts to introduce meaningful changes to fishing techniques.

Early signs indicate that the new regulations in New Zealand are having some effect on monitored boats, although it will take some time for meaningful data to become available. However, only 5% of tuna trawlers and long liners are officially monitored for bycatch, which makes the data hard to extrapolate from.

But one thing’s for sure. If the New Zealand industry was able to match South Africa’s laudable 85% reduction in deaths, thousands of threatened birds could be saved. With a greater willingness on the part of industry to cooperate with conservation efforts, such a result could be achieved here.

A drowned Wandering Albatross – caught on a longline.
Graham Robertson/Australian Antarctic Division