April 25, 2013
New plan to avoid bird deaths
Māori fishing companies have welcomed a new plan to reduce the risk to seabirds from fishing operations.
Carl Carrington, the Chair of Fisheries Inshore New Zealand and Chief Executive of Aotearoa Fisheries, says the plan of action from the Ministry of Primary Industry demonstrates what can be achieved through a collaborative approach and constructive dialogue between government, industry and other stakeholders.
He says a lot of research has been done over the past decade into the problem, and the inshore fishing industry has been adopting methods like setting lines at night, using weighted lines and responsible waste and bait discard so it’s less likely they will kill birds.
Fishers are also more aware of seabird migration patterns so they can reduce the risk.
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