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Español The New Zealand Ministry of Fisheries and the Department of Conservation are seeking public comment by 7 June 2011 on a draft Seabird Policy.
The policy aims to reduce the fishing-related mortality of seabirds by putting in place a risk-based approach to managing fishing interactions with seabirds, targeting those species most at risk. The policy will be integrated into both Fisheries Plans - the Ministry of Fisheries' principal tool for achieving fisheries outcomes - and the Department of Conservation's Conservation Services Programme. The draft Seabird Policy will be implemented over the next year.
The document upon which comments are sought is:
Draft Seabird Policy - the policy sets out the process that government and stakeholders will use to assess the fishing-related mortality of seabirds and design appropriate management actions that will be delivered through Fisheries Plans, Annual Operating Plans and other means.
In addition to the draft Seabird Policy the following background documents provide further context and detail about the draft seabird policy and the approach taken:
Seabird Action Plan - this document summarises the range of actions either planned or currently being taken to manage fishing interactions with seabirds. It brings together the management actions from across the three relevant Fisheries Plans, the Department of Conservation, as well as actions being taken by industry and non-government organisations.
Draft seabird risk assessment - this document is the scientific paper describing the level 2 risk assessment process in detail. This risk assessment has been subject to extensive review by the Aquatic Environment Working Group and the final report is expected in May 2011.
Draft risk assessment results - this table lists all New Zealand seabird species assessed through both the level 2 risk assessment, and a previous level 1 risk assessment. A combined risk score covering findings from both assessments has been developed and broken down by fishery. The results from the risk assessment form the empirical basis for the Seabird Policy.
A self assessment of New Zealand's activities against the FAO best practice guidelines - an overview of the range of activities New Zealand is carrying out and how these activities align with the FAO's ‘Best Practice Guidelines to Reduce Incidental Catch of Seabirds in Capture Fisheries'.
Description of current mitigation measures - this document describes in more detail the range of mitigation measures in place to address fishing related mortality of seabirds.
Questions and answers - this document contains a list of questions and answers that will help provide some of the context for the draft Seabird Policy and Seabird Action Plan.
To comment on the draft Seabird Policy please complete the online survey form by7 June 2011. Please direct any additional questions to
News from Ministry of Fisheries | Te Tautiaki i nga tini a Tangaroa, Wellington, New Zealand.
John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 1 June 2011