Hon Nathan Guy
Minister for Primary Industries
Hon Maggie Barry
Minister of Conservation
17 November 2015
Awards celebrate seabird protection
Outstanding advocacy for protection of New Zealand’s seabirds by the fishing industry has been recognised tonight at the
Seabird Smart Awards, Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy and Conservation Minister Maggie Barry say.
“New Zealand is a home for more than one third of the world’s seabird species and we have a responsibility as a nation
to ensure they survive,” Ms Barry says.
“Some 35 per cent of the 92 species which visit our waters are under threat of extinction and the key to their
protection is to reduce bycatch in fishing operations.
“It’s encouraging to see those who have gone beyond the call to raise awareness of seabirds and introduce mitigation in
commercial fleets recognised at the awards at Parliament tonight.”
The Seabird Smart Awards are presented biennially by the Southern Seabird Solutions Trust, a key partner for DOC and the
Ministry for Primary Industries. Nominations are sought from within the industry and environmental groups.
“The New Zealand fishing industry has made significant progress reducing bycatch over the last decade, as shown in the
recently-released Environment Aotearoa report, which estimated bycatch fell around 40 per cent from 2002-03 to 2012-13,”
Mr Guy says.
“Award-winners Tom Searle of Leigh Fisheries and Mike Black of Talley’s have both introduced seabird risk management
plans to the vessels which they manage. Their efforts are not only protecting seabirds but helping New Zealand seafood
become recognised nationally and internationally as seabird friendly,” Mr Guy says.
Special awards were also given to Wayne Dreadon, vice president of the Whitianga-Coromandel Peninsula Fishermen’s
Association, and to Government fisheries observer Jamie Williamson for their advocacy work.
DOC supports seabirds through ongoing population monitoring of threatened species like the white-capped albatross and
black petrel, research into mitigation methods and through pest control and eradication at important breeding sites such
as Raoul Island and the Chathams.
MPI promotes seabird protection through having observers on vessels, and assists the industry by providing ongoing
support to fishers and checking seabird risk management plans on vessels are adhered to.
ENDS