16 January 2003

The Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism has taken a step to reduce the incidental catch of seabirds in longline fisheries, with the drafting of a National Plan of Action (NPOA-Seabirds) to deal with the situation.

The move follows growing concern over the numbers of seabirds, especially albatrosses, being killed by longline vessels in Southern Africa.

According to studies conducted in the 1980s to determine how the birds were being killed by longline hooks, an estimated 44 000 albatrosses were being killed annually by one Southern Ocean fishery alone.

"The NPOA-Seabirds sets out the required mitigation measures to reduce mortality of seabirds to below an interim target level of 0.05 birds per 1 000 hooks by South Africa's four longline fisheries for hake, tuna and swordfish, Patagonian toothfish and sharks," the Department said in a statement.

Meanwhile, stakeholders in the fishery industry attended a workshop in Cape Town on Thursday to discuss the draft text of the NPOA-Seabirds.

Birdlife South Africa is expected to launch a Seabird Identification Poster at the workshop.

The department has invited members of the public to submit their comments on the draft NPOA-Seabirds document before the end of January. The document is available on the Environmental Affairs and Tourism web site.

Comments can be sent to:

Ms Leshia Upfold
Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism
Marine & Coastal Management Branch
Private Bag X2
Roggebaai 8012

Fax: (021) 421-7406
E-mail: lupfold@mcm.wcape.gov.za

	Birds in the wake of a trawler (Photo copyright: Brendan Ryan, BirdLife South Africa)

	Environmental Affairs & Tourism  BirdLife South Africa