Louise Gray, The Telegraph 22 Sep 08;
An innovative system originally designed to stop whales and seals from stealing fish has proved so effective in protecting rare birds like the albatross from becoming entangled in fishing nets that the UN has urged all fishing fleets to introduce similar measures.
In longline fishing, which targets fish such as tuna, swordfish and billfish, boats trail long lines bearing as many as 2,500 baited hooks. Seabirds following the vessel dive for the bait and, in the absence of protection, become hooked.
However the Chilean longline fishing fleet have introduced the so-called "umbrella system" in which the hooks are set in bunches shrouded by cone-shaped net sleeves that prevents birds from taking the bait when the longlines are dropped overboard.
Although originally designed to reduce whale predation, the umbrellas have been very effective.
As a result of the umbrella system the number of birds killed by fishermen in Chile dropped from 1,600 kill, including 1,500 albatrosses, in 2002 to none in 2006.
The Food and Agricultural Organisation of the UN are now calling for other fishing fleets to introduce similar measures.
Francis Chopin, FAO senior fishery officer, said: "With industry and government working as partners, the impacts of fishing can be greatly reduced".
An expert consultation was organised by FAO in Bergen, Norway, earlier this month to help countries more effectively implement the International Plan of Action (IPOA) for Reducing the Accidental Catch of Seabirds in Longline Fisheries.
Among the key "best practices" guidelines suggested by the meeting was extending safeguards from longline to trawl and gillnet fisheries in areas of high seabird density.
In the absence of safeguards, the impacts of fishing on populations of already endangered seabirds may be significant. Particularly at risk are seabirds such as albatrosses, of which 18 of the 22 species are listed as endangered.
