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An article written by the Southern Seabirds Solutions Trust and published in the industry magazine Seafood New Zealand  describes how a "fisherman-turned-inventor" has been developing a temporary metal shield to be placed over a longline hook (click here).  The metal shield is designed to fall away after the hook has reached a depth of 50 m, considered deep enough to protect seabirds.

 As well as deterring birds from seizing the bait, it also makes the baited hook sink faster, so that it is within the reach of albatrosses and petrels for a shorter time period.

 More information on mitigation measures to reduce seabird bycatch in both longline and trawl fisheries, such as the streamer lines illustrated above, may be found on this web site.  Click here to access a set of 14 mitigation facts sheets produced jointly by ACAP and BirdLife International.

 John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 28 June 2010