A new seabird mitigation device called a sprayer has been approved by the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA), following results showing that it reduces seabird interactions with trawlers by 90%.

The sprayer has been developed using Australian Government funding and is part of work that is developing and testing two new physical devices to protect seabirds from the cables, or warps, used to tow trawl nets.

The water sprayer sits over each warp and rains a heavy stream of water down on the area where the warps enter the sea. This stream can be aimed at the warp to allow for wind and whether the vessel is fishing shallow or deep. If the vessel is fishing deep the angle of the warp is steeper and it is closer to the vessel.

Almost all vessels currently use two pinkies (large inflatable buoys) in front of their warps that push seabirds out of the way of danger. Although effective, fishermen hold concerns about the safety of this system because their crew must untangle pinkies if they wrap around the warp.

All vessels in the fishery must use an approved seabird mitigation device and it is a condition on their fishing permit.

The project is ongoing and testing of a second device is still underway.

A video of the sprayer in action can be seen below.

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