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ACAP's Seabird Bycatch Working Group held a productive two-day meeting on 17 and 18 August 2008 in Hermanus, on the south coast of South Africa's Western Cape Province.

The meeting was led by its Convenor, Barry Baker (Australia), supported by the Vice-Convenor, Carlos Moreno (Chile), with members and observers from most ACAP Parties, and observers from several range states and NGOs.

A very full agenda was covered, with 34 tabled documents considered. Following an update of research on new mitigation techniques reported by attendees, discussions covered issues relating to mitigation of bycatch in both demersal longline and trawl fisheries and revising existing advice on mitigation measures for pelagic longline fisheries. Consideration of the co-ordination of activities with Regional Fishery Management Organizations (RFMOs), capacity-building issues, provision of bycatch data by Parties, and the group's work programme rounded off the group's deliberations.

The Working Group's report will be considered at the Fourth Meeting of ACAP's Advisory Committee, to be held in Somerset West, South Africa from 22-35 August 2008.

Information from Barry Baker, Convenor, ACAP Seabird Bycatch Working Group, posted 19 August 2008