I’m leaving for sea tomorrow on a tuna boat, hoping to have a good trip and that what I learn will be of use for the conservation of the seabirds we are working to protect.
This trip is an experiment to investigate the efficiency of an under-water setting capsule to reduce, and possibly eliminate, the mortality of seabirds in the pelagic longline fleet. The device was developed by Australian engineers and scientists and its efficiency will be tested in Uruguay through collaborative work between the National Aquatic Resources Department (DINARA), the Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) and Goldenstar S.A..
The experiment will take place in Uruguay due to the great seabird abundances and high capture rates in the region. The cooperation from the ATF team in Uruguay (from Proyecto Albatros y Petreles) has been important in the development of the project due to our experience onboard the ships of the fleet, our knowledge of the local seabird species and our good relationship with the captains and crew.
During the first trip I will be working with Graham Robertson, research scientist from the AAD. For the first set of the longline gear we will record the attack rates of seabirds on the baited hooks and subsequently evaluate the seabird capture during the haul.
We expect that the under-water setting chute will be an efficient method to reduce seabird mortality in areas of high seabird abundance, without negatively affecting the catch of target (fish) species.
Less than a month ago I was at-sea on the same vessel and I know all the guys onboard well, indeed I’ve spent many trips with this crew on different vessels over the years. I have no doubt that their willingness to help will be crucial for the success of the project and eventually for the conservation of albatross and petrels.
Since we began work on this project in Uruguay, a couple of months ago, the vessel has used the tori line developed by the Uruguayan ATF team displaying their dedication to preventing seabird bycatch. Without doubt the results we find on this trip will be of great importance for Australia and Uruguay, but at the same time, they will also have an impact on an international scale due to the urgent need for efficient mitigation measures in pelagic longline fisheries.
Simultaneously to my trip, Martin Abreu (Uruguayan ATF instructor) will be aboard another vessel that will operate in close proximity to ours. Martin plans to obtain further data that will allow us to make solid conclusions about the performance and use of our tori line design. These results will be critical for the implementation of the Uruguayan National Plan of Action – Seabirds.
During October we will be able to enjoy the feeling of finding ourselves back at-sea with a great number of seabird species. Although the reproductive season is beginning for many species that breed in the South Atlantic (like the Black-browed albatross), and even in other oceans (like the White-capped albatross, plus northern and southern Royal albatross), you can still see large numbers of birds at this time of year.
This is the period when the Spectacled petrel starts to arrive in abundance here, a bird endemic to Tristan da Cunha and one of the most charismatic species in the region. We can see several hundred around a single vessel.
However, without doubt for me, this is the best time of year to see the Wandering albatross from South Georgia. Having recently finished bringing up their chicks, these birds appear in our waters throughout August to November and they arrive in large groups with easily around twenty birds attending a single vessel.
Without doubt, Graham, Martin and I will be really enthused by the sight of these magnificent seabirds close to our vessels. We will also be content as we know our efforts with these experiments are definitely a huge step toward the conservation of these vulnerable species.