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The Global Seabird Programme (GSP) of Birdlife International is in the process of appointing a Senior Policy Officer to develop a work programme to reduce threats to seabirds from bycatch in gillnet fisheries worldwide.  The post is to be based with BirdLife's UK partner, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.

"The GSP works to reduce threats to global seabird populations, particularly focusing on work to reduce threats to seabirds from fisheries bycatch, and inputting to marine spatial planning and Marine Protected Area initiatives.  As well as being the GSP lead on gillnet fisheries the position will make a key contribution to GSP's work on longline and trawl bycatch and to the GSP scientific and technical framework, advocacy and communications."

Balearic Shearwater in the hand.  Photograph by Daniel Oro

All three major fishing methods are known to interact deleteriously with seabirds, including  the ACAP-listed and Critically Endangered Balearic Shearwater Puffinus mauretanicus, a Mediterranean endemic, illustrated here.

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 11 December 2012