Offal management key to seabird solutions

摘要

A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF SEABIRDS are killed each year by collisions or entanglement with trawl gear - especially warps. The Hoki Fishery Management Company Ltd (HFMC) has committed to reducing these interactions through their Marine Stewardship Council certification. However, the effectiveness of changes in vessel management practice and the use of deterrent devices require measuring. What brings birds to areas of risk near trawlers and how can this be avoided? Mace Company Ltd were commissioned to develop a research experiment during 2004 with input from the HFMC Environmental Steering Croup (includes government and NGO representation), to test the effects of managing processing fishery waste and the associated use of a 'bird baffler'.