In the first Albatross Task Force workshop held in Chile early this year, all teams committed to conducting research to improve mitigation measure performance and thus further reduce seabird bycatch levels. The South African team has committed to two experiments; one in the trawl fishery which you can read in Bronwyn’s diary and one in the pelagic longline fishery which is the one I’m busy doing.
Last year we tested the newly developed Safe Leads. These are specially designed replacements for normal lead swivels. Lead swivels have been known to cause terrible injuries to fishermen and the Safe Leads can prevent that happening and save birds too!
They add weight to the line and therefore increase the sink rate of hooks, which limits the time that bait is available for albatrosses. By using a tori line at the same time, fishermen can avoid killing birds and stay safe. In order to be able to recommend the use of Safe Leads we need to prove that it doesn’t negatively impact the catch rates of fish.
A local longline vessel; Admiral De Ruiter agreed to accommodate me to conduct the research. It took quite a while to get everything ready but by the end of July we made our first trip. Conducting research at sea is not a simple task! It is highly important that the crew understand what I’m doing, so while we steamed to the fishing grounds I got them all together and explained about the study.
This was my fifth trip onboard this vessel so the guys knew me and were used to the ‘weird’ stuff I do to save albatrosses. The crew were very cooperative and without their help I wouldn’t be able to do this work. Unfortunately, the fishing was not very good. The second trip was even worse; we caught less fish and had to come back early due to a mechanical problem; the steering system broke and we had to manoeuvre the vessel by hand!! My job was to shout ‘port’, ‘starboard’ or ‘mid ship’ whenever the vessel was out of course.
This weekend we’re going to try again and I sincerely hope that this time the fish will decide to bite the bait so we can get some of the experimental data we need!
Hi there,
I am a mature student that has finished a FdSc Zoological Conservation Course over two years based in Cornwall UK and am now in my final year at Camborne, Cornwall studying a BSc in Environmental Resource Management.
I have had experience in conducting field research, data input and log reports with the college and in my spare time, I have also monitored and ringed different species of birds with the supervision of my trainer from the Wetland Trust UK, who work alongside the British Trust of Ornithology.
I have cared for wildlife, birds of prey and marine life under the instruction of the RSPCA UK, which has included feeding and cleaning. I have been involved in Water Vole surveys under the Romney Marsh Countryside Project UK in conjunction with my end of year individual research project.
This December I am voluntary helping on the Yelkouan Shearwater Project in Malta for two weeks which is organised by Birdlife International.
I have always had a strong interest in birds, fauna, flora, marine, aquatics & the great outdoors and would
like to offer my services (voluntary) to gain experience in return, is there any way I can assist you.
Ideally I would like to come and help during my holidays or at the end of my course.
Look forward to hearing from you or anybody that has the same interests.
Kind Regards
Claire Trew.