The Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) has approved a successful new seabird mitigation device known as a ‘bird baffler’ for use in Australia’s southern trawl fisheries.
A bird baffler works by deterring seabirds from hanging around fishing boats and preventing them from running into the trawl wires (warps).
The device was developed as part of a project conducted by the South East Trawl Fishing Industry Association (SETFIA) and the Great Australian Bight Fishing Industry Association (GABIA) to find ways to further decrease interactions between fishing gear and seabirds.
GABIA’s executive officer, Jeff Moore, explained that the project took industry to New Zealand to investigate mitigation measures. The bird baffler was selected as being the most promising.
“I think we are all surprised that the baffler, which is a simple device, has reduced interactions by more than 90% compared to unprotected trawl wires,” Mr Moore said. “This is great news and I look forward to seeing it used in boats across our fleet.”
The trial was conducted during times of high seabird concentration to ensure the new devices clearly reduced seabird interactions. The bird baffler trial results have been assessed and meet the criteria of AFMA’s, Guide to Developing New Seabird Mitigation Devices in Trawl Fisheries. By meeting those criteria, the bird baffler device has been significantly proven to be an improvement over existing mitigation measures, and a substantial step forward for the trawl industry.
