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Jeffrey Mangel & Joanna Alfaro-Shigueto of Pro Delphinus, a Peruvian NGO, have completed a study that was funded by the Albatross and Petrel Agreement in 2009.  In their final report submitted to the ACAP Secretariat this month they detail how they distributed 3750 weighted swivels (45 and 60 g) to 13 vessels in the fishing ports of Salaverry, Chimbote and Ilo.  Weighted swivels cause branch lines to sink faster, thus reducing the risks of hooking seabirds, such as the Waved Albatross Phoebastria irrorata.  Follow-up interviews with owners and crews of vessels receiving the swivels indicated that their experience was positive.

The report's Executive Summary follows:

"Peru's artisanal longline fishery is a dynamic fleet which is constantly changing where and how it fishes.  One aspect of that change is through gear mechanization.  This project visited three of Peru's leading longline ports to document this process.  We identified seven active mechanized vessels and an additional two under construction.  This report summarizes these findings and documents the mechanization process and what increased mechanization may mean in terms of seabird interactions.  We also report on a trial introduction of weighted swivels in the ports of Salaverry, Chimbote and Ilo.  Finally we provide an update of ongoing Waved Albatross abundance and distribution counts."

Founded in 1995, Pro Delphinus is a not-for-profit Peruvian organization based in Lima.  Pro Delphinus is committed to the conservation of threatened and endangered marine fauna.

Reference:

Jeffrey C. Mangel, J.C. & Alfaro-Shigueto, J. 2010.  Responding to the evolution of Peru's artisanal longline fleet: characterizing fleet mechanization and introducing weighted swivels.  Final Report to the Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels.  Lima: Pro Delphinus.  12 pp.

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 24 October 2010