The New Zealand government has issued a statement of intent to save endangered albatrosses and petrels from being killed by fishing activity.
The National Plan of Action for Seabirds (NPOAS) has been released by the country's Ministry for Primary Industries, and Forest and Bird (BirdLife in New Zealand) was part of the stakeholders’ committee that formulated the plan, along with representatives of the fishing industry.
The latest assessment indicates that more than 15,000 seabirds die annually from coming into contact with commercial fishing operations inside New Zealand’s Exclusive Economic Zone alone. Six species in the new risk assessment are considered to be at “very high risk” from fishing activity, including Flesh-footed Shearwater.
“Forest and Bird is pleased that the minister has decided that the priority is to create an action plan for Black Petrel, a species which only breeds on Great Barrier and Little Barrier islands, and is at risk from commercial and recreational fishers, particularly in the Hauraki Gulf,” said Forest and Bird’s Seabird Advocate, Karen Baird.
Forest and Bird believes it should be standard practice for bottom long-liners to use weighted lines, which quickly sink beyond the reach of diving birds. The organisation says that it is also important that fish waste and unused baits are not thrown overboard while fishing so as to reduce the risk of birds swallowing hooks.
“Most New Zealanders don’t realise that we have more native seabirds than landbirds breeding only in New Zealand,” says Karen Baird. “Every one of New Zealand’s 10 endemic albatross species is under severe threat from the fishing industry. These birds are as unique to this country as Tui and Kakapo, and New Zealanders would want to see them protected as much as is possible. It should also be remembered that for every albatross or petrel that dies there’s a real chance that a chick will also die in a nest, waiting for one of its parents to return with food. I am heartened that the industry and the government have finally agreed that we have a major problem. Now that the plan has been approved we need some action. There is a lot of hard work to come, to make sure that the plan’s goals, to protect seabirds, are met.
“This will require everyone involved in the industry to start acting responsibly and start doing what is needed. If we don’t, we will lose a lot more of what makes New Zealand such a special place. But I am cautiously optimistic."
Source: New Zealand's seabirds to get extra protection | News | Birdwatch Magazine
The National Plan of Action for Seabirds (NPOAS) has been released by the country's Ministry for Primary Industries, and Forest and Bird (BirdLife in New Zealand) was part of the stakeholders’ committee that formulated the plan, along with representatives of the fishing industry.
The latest assessment indicates that more than 15,000 seabirds die annually from coming into contact with commercial fishing operations inside New Zealand’s Exclusive Economic Zone alone. Six species in the new risk assessment are considered to be at “very high risk” from fishing activity, including Flesh-footed Shearwater.
“Forest and Bird is pleased that the minister has decided that the priority is to create an action plan for Black Petrel, a species which only breeds on Great Barrier and Little Barrier islands, and is at risk from commercial and recreational fishers, particularly in the Hauraki Gulf,” said Forest and Bird’s Seabird Advocate, Karen Baird.
Forest and Bird believes it should be standard practice for bottom long-liners to use weighted lines, which quickly sink beyond the reach of diving birds. The organisation says that it is also important that fish waste and unused baits are not thrown overboard while fishing so as to reduce the risk of birds swallowing hooks.
“Most New Zealanders don’t realise that we have more native seabirds than landbirds breeding only in New Zealand,” says Karen Baird. “Every one of New Zealand’s 10 endemic albatross species is under severe threat from the fishing industry. These birds are as unique to this country as Tui and Kakapo, and New Zealanders would want to see them protected as much as is possible. It should also be remembered that for every albatross or petrel that dies there’s a real chance that a chick will also die in a nest, waiting for one of its parents to return with food. I am heartened that the industry and the government have finally agreed that we have a major problem. Now that the plan has been approved we need some action. There is a lot of hard work to come, to make sure that the plan’s goals, to protect seabirds, are met.
“This will require everyone involved in the industry to start acting responsibly and start doing what is needed. If we don’t, we will lose a lot more of what makes New Zealand such a special place. But I am cautiously optimistic."
Source: New Zealand's seabirds to get extra protection | News | Birdwatch Magazine