Press Release Embargoed for use on or after 11th February 2007

Wanted: new inventions to save NZ seas and species. Reward: US$30,000

The protection of New Zealand's seabirds and marine species comes under the spotlight this week, as WWF-New Zealand launches its third annual Smart Gear competition. The competition seeks new designs for fishing gear that will reduce marine by-catch - the accidental catch and related deaths of marine mammals, birds, sea turtles and fish species in fishing gear.

Many millions of tonnes of what is accidentally caught in the course of fishing around the world are thrown back into the sea dead, or dying, each year. The WWF Smart Gear Competition is a global search for practical inventions that will help the fishing industry reduce the amount of marine species and seabirds that end up as by-catch, which WWF-New Zealand counts as one of the greatest threats to our seas.

"We want to encourage people from New Zealand to enter this competition to make fishing practices smarter," says Chris Howe, WWF-New Zealand's Executive Director. "WWF is working around the world to reduce the death and waste of seabirds, turtles, dolphins, juvenile fish and other animals through entanglement with fishing gear. Often the best innovations come from fishers themselves - like New Zealand fisherman Chris Carey, who won runner-up in the 2006 competition for his invention that reduces the risk of large seabirds hitting trawl vessels' warp lines. This year, we're hoping to attract more entries from enterprising New Zealanders like Chris whose ideas can make a real difference. This is a unique opportunity to hear about practical solutions to help tackle one of the greatest threats to our seas".

Chris Carey's invention, 'Carefree's Cunning Contraption' - or the CCC for short - has already had a significant impact in reducing the amount of large seabirds such as albatross from dying on trawl lines. The device uses brightly coloured streamers to make warp lines on trawlers (the cables that pull the trawl nets through the water) more visible. Seabirds feed on fish offal discarded by trawl vessels, and a proportion become entangled in the warps and die. Skipper Carey's goal was to make the warp lines and the area around them highly visible so that sea birds will be able to see them even in the midst of a feathery feeding frenzy. Since the 2006 competition, the CCC has been put into commercial use and many New Zealand fishing vessels now use Carey's invention as part of an arsenal of devices to reduce the amount of by-catch. In recent trials, the CCC almost halved the number of large seabird warp strikes, a result which is, as Chris Carey says; "..awesome as a first off. I expect that number to be even higher in future as our techniques are refined and better ones invented".

This year, the winning designer will receive a US$30,000 grand prize and there will also be two US$10,000 runner-up prizes. Entries will be judged on whether they are innovative, practical, cost-effective, reduce by-catch of any species and make an important contribution to conservation. The judges include fishermen, researchers, engineers and fisheries managers from all over the world.

For those thinking of entering this year's competition, Chris has this advice: "Go for it. I entered for the hell of it not entertaining the idea my device would be considered seriously or receive the prize it did. It was a great honour and receiving the award in Brussels at The Seafood Expo was an experience in itself. Sustainable seafood marketing is growing and soon only countries and companies showing they are trying to do something about it will get their products to market. Sit back and do nothing and you'll be left behind. So if you have an idea, a device, a Carefree's Cunning Contraption, submit it!"

The competition is open to eligible entrants from any background-including fishermen, professional gear manufacturers, teachers, students, engineers, scientists and backyard inventors. Instructions for entering the competition are available at www.smartgear.org. Completed entries must be submitted by July 31, 2007. Last year's winner was a New Jersey inventor who designed fishing gear that could save thousands of sharks from accidentally dying on fishing lines each year. The winner's design uses a shark's ability to detect magnetic fields as a way to protect them by placing strong magnets just above baited hooks. The design will be tested this spring and summer in advance of potential commercial use. For official competition rules and to learn how to enter, please visit www.smartgear.org. The competition begins February 7, 2007 and ends July 31, 2007. Employees, agents, current contractors, and relatives of employees of World Wildlife Fund, Inc. or any WWF National Organization are ineligible. Judges and relatives of Judges are also ineligible. The competition is void where prohibited. Odds depend on number of entries received. No purchase is necessary.

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