On-board cameras to continue monitoring of seabird mortality in New Zealand fisheries

A trial using on-board cameras on fishing vessels to monitor accidental capture of seabirds, including the ACAP-listed and globally and Nationally Vulnerable Black Petrel Procellaria  parkinsoni, in the Hauraki Gulf of New Zealand’s North Island that commenced in 2016 is to be extended for another year.  The trial aims at testing how well cameras can monitor seabird bycatch compared to human observers while also gathering information on how many seabirds are being caught.

Black Petrel at sea, photograph by 'Biz' Bell

Footage reviewed so far shows cameras and observers see similar numbers of hooked seabirds. The camera footage is clear enough to enable species identifications.

The camera trial is being financed by the three company members of the Black Petrel Working Group and the subsequent data analysis is being financed by Fisheries New Zealand.

Information taken from a WWF-New Zealand press release.

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 26 December 2018