Keep an eye out for seabirds this summer

Keep an eye out for seabirds this summer When you’re out on the water over the summer, particularly if you’re fishing from a boat, there’s a very good chance of catching the attention of hungry seabirds.

Much like us, there are more seabirds fishing for a feed at this time of the year, and the last thing you want do is accidentally hook one.

Seabirds are nature’s fish finders – they’ll give you a good indication of where the fish are, making them a fisher’s best mate, but if they end up on your hook it can ruin a perfectly good fishing trip.

If a seabird gets too close and ends up on your line, do you know what to do?

With around 145 seabird species, including many albatrosses and petrels, calling New Zealand’s waters home we have one of the most diverse seabird communities in the world, and we want to make sure it stays that way.

While there are many threats to seabirds, the key threats are being accidentally caught in fisheries, invasive predators, disease, pollution, and an ever-changing climate.

As a fisher, you play an important part in keeping seabirds safe when you’re fishing. The best way is to take every step possible to avoid them. If you do accidentally catch a seabird what you do next makes a huge difference.

Keep an eye on any seabirds that are hanging around your boat. Our feathered friends have excellent eyesight and sense of smell so they’ll certainly figure out where you are and will be keen to swoop in for an effortless feed from your line.

So, when you’re out fishing, remember to take steps to effectively avoid catching seabirds and keep track of all your fishing gear to ensure nothing is left behind. Anything you leave could harm seabirds or other marine life.

Most New Zealand seabirds are protected by law and it’s an offence to deliberately harm them. It’s not illegal to accidentally capture a protected seabird, but if you do you must report it to the Department of Conservation (0800 DOC HOT – 0800 362 468).

What should you do if you accidentally catch a seabird?

• The most important thing is to handle them very carefully. It’s much like handling an undersized fish – the way you treat a hooked seabird will make a big difference to its survival.
• Gently capture the bird in a landing net and get it onto your boat,
• Wrap it in a towel and hold its feet firmly,
• Hold its beak but take care not to cover the nostrils,
• Cut the line from the hook, and use small pliers to flatten the hook or cut it with bolt cutters, then pull the hook out,
• If the hook is swallowed, cut the line so there’s nothing left to get tangles on things, and
• Release the bird at water level.

More information can be found in Fisheries New Zealand’s Responsible Fishing Guidelines: https://www.mpi.govt.nz/dmsdocument/17668/direct

How can you avoid seabirds altogether?

We know that fishers don’t go out to catch seabirds, so here’s a few pointers to help you actively avoid them:

• Petrels and shearwaters follow boats and attack baits above and under the water. Sink bait fast and berley deep to avoid these birds.
• Diving birds like gannets and terns work boil ups (a school of fish). Fishing around the sides and rear of the boil up minimises the chance of entangling them.
• Shags are attracted to small fish and live bait. Using larger live baits will deter them. You may want to move on if you’re catching small fish anyway.
• Seagulls are attracted to used or fresh bait. Cover your bait, and don’t leave unattended baited rods in the rod holders.

Spreading the word for Southern Seabirds

At this time last year, Ann Ward from Southern Seabirds Trust was out and about in the Whitianga area talking to fishers about safe handing of seabirds. The good news is she’s doing it all again this summer!

So, keep an eye out for Ann and stop by to say kia ora. She’ll have some pamphlets and other material on hand about seabird safety for fishers. Ann’s also keen to hear about your experiences with seabirds when you’ve been out fishing.

At Fisheries New Zealand, we’re proud to be supporting this important work – which you can find out more about on the Southern Seabird Trust’s website: www.catchfishnotbirds.nz

Emma Taylor is Fisheries New Zealand’s Director Fisheries Management