GAP2 working to save seabirds

European fisheries research group GAP2 is arranging for a British fisherman to visit an American fishery to learn more about measures to protect seabirds from being caught in fishing nets.

Rex Harrison, based in Filey, U.K., is traveling to the Puget Sound near Seattle, Wash., along with seabird expert Rory Crawford to see a salmon fishing ground in action. The goal, according to GAP2, is to exchange tips about bird-friendly fishing nets and bycatch in net fisheries.

"I am really looking forward to taking part in this GAP2 exchange,” Harrison said. “The fisherman in Filey have really got behind work to reduce seabird by-catch in our nets, and I am keen to share what we've learnt with salmon fishers in Puget Sound, and in turn see what they can teach us about how they are reducing by-catch.”

According to GAP2, about 400,000 seabirds die every year after being caught in gillnets, including diving seabirds.

Rory Crawford, senior policy officer for conservation group BirdLife International’s marine program in the U.K., will be joining Harrison.

“BirdLife have worked with fishermen from all over the world to achieve reductions in seabird bycatch in longline and trawl fisheries, particularly through our Albatross Task Force, working directly on fishing vessels,” Crawford said. “Solving this problem in gillnet fisheries, however, presents a new and thus far poorly studied challenge. Through working with fishermen like Rex over the coming years, we hope to find practical solutions that minimize bird catch but don’t impact target fish catch. Funding from GAP2 to make this possible is so important, helping to build understanding between sectors.”

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