It has not been an easy haul to get back out to sea again. Fisheries are in limbo at the moment, as new permits are still to be issued in the hake longline fishery. That means 'in' with some new rights-holders and skippers, and 'out' with some old guys.
At the same time, prices (driven by the market = that's you) have dropped and this encourages fishers to either stop fishing and carry out maintenance on their vessels or target another lucrative species, such as tuna, a species known to migrate inshore during this time of the year.
So some of the same hake vessels that I go out on, get a make-over and turn into a tuna fishing vessel (using the poling method) that target yellow-fin tuna for the local market.
Apparently the hake fishing is also quite bad this time of year, and only gets better during the winter period - good for them but bad for seabirds that over-winter here for food.
However, I have much hake longline data collected over the years that is being analysed, and certain questions need to be answered pronto, unfortunately meaning that I need to get out to sea!
Harbour visits were plenty; it was a time where I could target many fishermen: to hand out tori lines, and communicate with them about the seabird bycatch issue and the state of their fishery!
Nonetheless, a lot has been a happening on the awareness and education front, with our local fishermen and surf chicks.
Yes, you heard that correctly, a sport event took place here over the weekend, that brought like-minded marine ladies together to surf competitively (and learn how to) and to know more about the Save the Albatross Campaign.
The 'Billabong Girls Get Out There Surf Series' had us ATF ladies, Sam and I, sporting our stuffed albatrosses, tori lines, brochures, and sparkly beach personalities parading around the competition tents chatting to the attendees.
It's great that so many people are hearing about the campaign, particularly as these crowds use the ocean and its resources, and the plight of albatrosses was close to their hearts. Also, aquatic sports competitions and marine conservation go hand in hand these days.
Our fellow women out there also find the whole concept of female Albatross Task Force members as brave, determined and adventurous - maybe the next famous aquatic sport idol!