Southern Seabirds Solutions' "Mitigation Pathway" aims to support development of new mitigation techniques UPDATED

The Southern Seabird Solutions Trust, with support from Sanford Ltd, Solander Seafoods and Te Ohu Kaimoana, has developed an online resource to assist fishers and other inventors in developing their seabird bycatch mitigation ideas.  "We want to encourage people everywhere to keep their thinking caps on and come up with new seabird mitigation ideas or work to adapt existing ones," says Janice Molloy, Trust Convenor. "We also want to help them through the process of developing their idea into something that is effective and used by fishing fleets around the world."  The Mitigation Development Pathway is easy to access, contains clear step by step guidance with resources and case studies that will be useful for those considering development of mitigation ideas.  The resource is available at http://www.southernseabirds.org/ss-mitigation_pathway.

The SSST is also calling for nominations for its "2010 Seabird Safe Award" to be made to an individual, land-based company or industry group that is making a real difference for seabirds at sea. Nominations close on 31 July 2010. Fishers, companies, vessels, fisheries, individuals and groups are all eligible for nomination. They must be actively involved in commercial fishing and the implementation of seabird bycatch mitigation in New Zealand waters (click here).