My name is Kaspar Shimooshili; I have studied a Bachelor of Science in Natural Resources specializing in Fisheries and Aquatic Science at the University of Namibia. I am the second Albatross Task Force Instructor in Namibia tasked to work with the hake longline fishery.
Previously, I have worked for the Municipality of Walvis Bay on a short contract basis as an Environmental Officer.
This is an exciting job for me as I have an opportunity to learn more on the different species of birds and raise my conservation knowledge in marine field. For the past four years, I have been at the University of Namibia studying for my BSc which included modules on Conservation Biology, Environmental Science, Physical Oceanography, Biological and Chemical Oceanography.
From the experience I gained from the program and my previous job, I believe I have sufficient background to be an effective member of the Albatross Task Force team and am able to help facilitate it to accomplish its mission and goals in Namibia.
This is my first year to live in Walvis Bay, as I am originally from a hot and land-locked town in the north west of Namibia called Outapi. It is a genuine experience of a new life for me in Walvis Bay in terms of weather and social life. Walvis Bay is a beautiful town with well-managed unique dunes surrounding it.
This coastal town is where the desert meets the sea. Walvis Bay and the surrounding area is divided into different conservation zones including the Walvis Bay Nature Reserve, the Namib Naukluft Park and a RAMSAR site covering the lagoon. This site is seasonally important to different bird’s species such as flamingos, pelicans, oystercatchers, migrating waders and many seabirds.
I feel happy to be an Instructor for Albatross Task Force in Namibia. I heard about the ATF from an ex-classmate, and that they were looking for a suitable person so I forwarded my application to the Namibia Nature Foundation. I joined the Albatross Task Force in August 2008 for a trial sea trip with John Paterson (ATF Project Leader in Namibia). This was my first time to really look at and learn to identify the different albatrosses and petrels at sea.
This trip started on 28 August with a bottom trawler, Fisher Bank, belonging to Hangana fishing company. It was my second time at sea and I saw many different seabirds flying and foraging all around the vessel. Among these were yellow-nosed albatross, white-chinned petrels and skuas. Other seabirds that I identified, although less in number, included cape gannets, pintado petrels, Wilson's storm-petrels, black-browed albatrosses, shy albatrosses and two wandering albatrosses.
It was easy for me to adapt to the sea environment and to my tasks in this exciting environment with abruptly changing weather conditions. All crewmembers were friendly with me. However, I found out that there is a need for awareness to some of the crewmembers and other fishery observer on the importance of the sea birds. Good associations with existing observers and fisherman can help us to reduce the by-catch of albatrosses and petrels, and improve the conservation status of threatened seabirds.