This week I am writing to you from the RSPB headquarters in the UK! I am here on a vacation and took the opportunity to meet the people here who are co-ordinating the task force and all of the PR effort on its behalf.
My last week in South Africa was hectic but rewarding. The workshop with hake fisheries representatives was very successful. We even had some instant feedback on the success of the workshop, as the very next day we received phone calls requesting streamer lines and our information manual.
The manual combines techniques for identifying seabirds at sea and information about construction and use of tori (streamer) lines. We prefer, where possible, to meet with skippers and crew and personally show them how to use the streamer lines.
However, in this case, as both skippers had been present at the workshop and understood all of the different issues, we were happy to let them drop by and take the streamer line to try on their vessel.
In South Africa, there is no government funding for mitigation measures such as streamer lines. Therefore, each boat is responsible for constructing its own. BirdLife has provided a number of streamer lines free of charge to encourage more boats to use them.
I'm heading off for the rest of my vacation now and will catch up with you again when I'm back in Cape Town.