An emerging mitigation measure – the Hook-pod is currently being tested in South Africa and have been well-received by local fishermen. Their first impression was a feeling of awe. I can recall one skipper at Cape Town harbour calling them ‘precious toys’. My response to him was that these ‘precious toys’ will definitely save the seabirds and probably improve fishing and even stand the chance of saving you money.
Personally, I think that this awesome feeling was heightened by the ease with which the hook-pods have been incorporated into the deployment and recovery of fishing gear. Typically fishermen don’t like testing ‘new gear’ that will compromise their fishing operations but the Hook-pod has slipped effortlessly into the daily fishing operations.
The other aspect that I think brought an element of delight to them was the hook-pods’ built-in safety aspects which prevents them from flying-back during hauling when fishing lines are under high pressure.
One skipper who is also passionate about nature was quick to appreciate that the hook-pods will not only be a solution to seabird mortality rates but will also help curb the thousands and thousands of disposable plastic light-sticks that are routinely dumped into the sea after use. He reiterated the fact that light-sticks are expensive and can be detrimental to the health of our oceans.
Moreover, the fishermen’s great delight was elevated when they heard that the final product of the hook-pod will integrate a weight as well as light. They are aware of the high costs of buying swivels and light-sticks and realise that these three-in-one hook-pods will be a elegant solution.
Fishermen working on the fishing vessel (F.V Ryoei) on which the hook-pods trials are currently being conducted were very impressed about the little time taken and ease with which they can be deployed. When the first fish caught on branch-lines set with hook-pods was hauled in, word spread on deck rapidly, shouting that it was indeed a fish on an experimental line.
Fishermen told me that over their years of fishing it pained their hearts to see a lifeless seabird hooked and drowned on fishing gear. I was touched to hear that from them and also motivated to do more for these precious seabirds. Apart from their utmost admiration of these hook-pods, fishermen also had a few suggestions about how they would like the final product to look like. Some fishermen suggested a constant light whereas others preferred the flashing light which is incorporated in the current design.
We are keen to continue conducting this work, but at the moment we are waiting for the tropical cyclone Irini to pass before we head back to sea again.
Until then, my desire to change the world will have to be on-hold, thanks to the tropical cyclone Irini. Tropical cyclone Irini couldn’t have picked a worse time to strike......... her timing really sucks.