13 June 2016

In the framework of the Common Oceans ABNJ Tuna Project, FAO and BirdLife International, through its local partner, BirdLife South Africa (BLSA) are working together to prevent seabird bycatch. Currently, many national observers are not well skilled in collecting seabird bycatch data. To help fishing fleets comply with rules governing tuna fishing in the high seas, BirdLife is embarking on a program to improve their seabird data management skills and enabling them to conduct at-sea trials to test the effectiveness of bycatch mitigation measures. Compliance is critical to manage seabird bycatch successfully in tuna longline fisheries. Therefore, BLSA developed an intensive, seabird-relevant observer training course to deliver to observers from key tuna fishing countries.

Figure 1. The observer training workshop includes a pelagic seabird trip to improve observer's seabird identification skills.

The observer training programme is comprised of lectures covering the biology of seabirds, best practice for seabird bycatch mitigation, scientific approaches to conducting experiments at sea, and practical sessions on seabird identification and using various measures. The latest observer training workshop was held in Cape Town, where two Korean observers received 5 days intensive training. After the workshop Mr. Minuk Lee, a Korean observer with two years' experience at sea said:

"There are hundreds of birds around the fishing vessel. I often got frustrated because I couldn't identify seabirds well. After this training workshop, I'm confident in seabird identification and I will be able to demonstrate to fishermen how they could implement effectively and efficiently seabird bycatch mitigation measure requirements."

Mr. Jaeyoung Yang, another Korean observer who went straight from the course onto a Korean longline vessel to conduct trials, was impressed with the information on experimental design:

"Thank you for the detailed explanation on scientific design of experiment. I wish this kind of workshop is also provided to captains and crews so that many vessels become available for more at-sea trials."

Figure 2. The observers visited Ocean View Association for Persons with Disability, who crafts the Bird Scaring Lines in South Africa, where they had an opportunity to manufacture Best Practice BSLs. This training will enable them to help crew to make or fix BSLs if the line is lost or broken. From the left, Dr Yuna Kim, the fleet based coordinator, Mr Jaeyoung Yang and Mr Minuk Lee, two Korean observers.

Mr. Yang will be back in two months' time after collecting data to test the effectiveness of seabird bycatch mitigation measures at sea. The results of the trials will enable fleets to comply with RFMO regulations without significant costs or reduced catches of tuna. The result will also enable tuna RFMOs to measure and improve the effectiveness of seabird bycatch mitigation measures. The observer training workshops build capacity within the national observer programmes and encourages long term data collection on seabirds.

Mr. Yang will be back in two months' time after collecting data to test the effectiveness of seabird bycatch mitigation measures at sea. The results of the trials will enable fleets to comply with RFMO regulations without significant costs or reduced catches of tuna. The result will also enable tuna RFMOs to measure and improve the effectiveness of seabird bycatch mitigation measures. The observer training workshops build capacity within the national observer programmes and encourages long term data collection on seabirds.

The observer training workshop is a key element of the seabird bycatch component of the Common Oceans ABNJ Tuna Project, a global initiative seeking to achieve sustainable and efficient tuna fisheries production as well reducing impacts from tuna fishing on biodiversity
The project is funded by the Global Environment Facility and implemented by the FAO. BirdLife International through its local partner, BirdLife South Africa is leading the seabird bycatch component.

Figure 3. Observers learnt how to handle big seabirds like this albastross, if brought onboard, and how to release them safely. From the left, two observers, Mr Jaeyoung Yang and Mr Minuk Lee, Dr Ross Wanless, manager of the seabird conservation programme of BLSA, and Mr Janne Fogelgren, Project Operations Officer with the FAO.

• Dr. Yuna Kim, Fleet-based Training Coordinator, BirdLife South Africa | [email protected]

• Mr Alejandro Anganuzzi, Global Coordinator for the Common Oceans Tuna Project | [email protected]